Question time

Answer July—
Where is the Bee—
Where is the Blush—
Where is the Hay?

Ah, said July—
Where is the Seed—
Where is the Bud—
Where is the May—
Answer Thee—Me—

Nay—said the May—
Show me the Snow—
Show me the Bells—
Show me the Jay!

Quibbled the Jay—
Where be the Maize—
Where be the Haze—
Where be the Bur?
Here—said the Year—

— “Answer July,’’ by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), a lifelong resident of Amherst, Mass., where she spent many hours gardening on her family’s capacious property.

Looking from the garden at the Dickinson House, in Amherst.