451


The Outer - from the Inner
Derives its Magnitude -
'Tis Duke, or Dwarf, according
As is the Central Mood -

The fine - unvarying Axis
That regulates the Wheel -
Though Spokes - spin - more conspicuous
And fling a dust - the while.

The Inner - paints the Outer -
The Brush without the Hand -
Its Picture publishes - precise -
As is the inner Brand -

On fine - Arterial Canvas-
A Cheek - perchance a Brow -
The Star's whole Secret - in the Lake -
Eyes were not meant to know.


C. 1862 1935


452


The Malay - took the Pearl -
Not - I - the Earl -
- feared the Sea - too much
Unsanctified - to touch -

Praying that I mlght be
Worthy - the Destiny -
The Swarthy fellow swam -
And bore my Jewel - Home -

Home to the Hut! What lot
Had I - the Jewel - got -
Borne on a Dusky Breast -
I had not deemed a Vest
Of Amber - fit -

The Negro never knew
I - wooed it - too -
To gain, or be undone -
Alike to Him - One -

C. 1862 1945


453


Love - thou art high -
I cannot climb thee -
But, were it Two -
Who knows but we -
Taking turns - at the Chimborazo -
Ducal - at last - stand up by thee-

Love - thou art deep-
I cannot cross thee -
But, were there Two
Instead of One -
Rower, and Yacht - some sovereign Summer -
Who knows - but we'd reach the Sun?

Love - thou art Veiled-
A few - behold thee-
Smile - and alter - and prattle - and die -
Bliss - were an Oddity - without thee -
Nicknamed by God -
Eternity -

C. 1862 1929


454


It was given to me by the Gods -
When I was a little Girl -
They give us Presents most - you know -
When we are new - and small.
I kept it in my Hand-
I never put it down-
I did not dare to eat - or sleep -
For fear it would be gone-
I heard such words as "Rich" -
When hurrying to school-
From lips at Corners of the Streets -
And wrestled with a smile.
Rich! 'Twas Myself - was rich -
To take the name of Gold-
And Gold to own - in solid Bars -
The Difference - made me bold-

C. 1862 1945


455


Triumph - may be of several kinds
Triumph in the Room
When that Old Imperator - Death -
By Faith - be overcome -

There's Triumph of the finer Mind
When Truth - affronted long -
Advance unmoved - to Her Supreme -
Her God - Her only Throng -

A Triumph - when Temptation's Bribe
Be slowly handed back-
One eye upon the Heaven renounced -
And One - upon the Rack -

Severer Triumph - by Himself
Experienced - who pass
Acquitted - from that Naked Bar -
Jehovah's Countenance -

1862 1891


456


So well that I can live without-
I love thee- then How well is that?
As well as Jesus?
Prove it me
That He - loved Men -
As I - love thee-

1862 1929


457


Sweet - safe - Houses -
Glad - gay - Houses -
Sealed so stately tight-
Lids of Steel - on Lids of Marble -
Locking Bare feet out -

Brooks of Plush - in Banks of Satin
Not so softly fall
As the laughter - and the whisper -
From their People Pearl -

No Bald Death - affront their Parlors -
No Bold Sickness come
To deface their Stately Treasures -
Anguish - and the Tomb -

Hum by - in Muffled Coaches -
Lest they - wonder Why -
Any - for the Press of Smiling -
Interrupt - to die -

1862 1945


458


Like Eyes that looked on Wastes -
Incredulous of Ought
But Blank - and steady Wilderness -
Diversified by Night -

Just Infinites of Nought -
As far as it could see-
So looked the face I looked upon -
So looked itself - on Me -

I offered it no Help -
Because the Cause was Mine -
The Misery a Compact
As hopeless - as divine -

Neither - would be absolved -
Neither would be a Queen
Without the Other - Therefore -
We perish - tho' We reign -

1862 1945


459


A Tooth upon Our Peace
The Peace cannot deface -
Then Wherefore be the Tooth?
To vitalize the Grace -

The Heaven hath a Hell-
Itself to signalize -
And every sign before the Place
Is Gilt with SacrIfice -


1862 1935


460


I know where Wells grow - Droughtless Wells -
Deep dug - for Summer days-
Where Mosses go no more away-
And Pebble - safely plays-

It's made of Fathoms - and a Belt-
A Belt of jagged Stone-
Inlaid with Emerald - half way down -
And Diamonds - jumbled on-

It has no Bucket - Were I rich
A Bucket I would buy -
I'm often thirsty - but my lips
Are so high up - You see -

I read in an Old fashioned Book
That People "thirst no more" -
The Wells have Buckets to them there-
It must mean that - I'm sure-

Shall We remember Parching - then?
Those Waters sound so grand -
I think a little Well - like Mine -
Dearer to understand

C. 1862 1935


461


A Wife - at Daybreak I shall be-
Sunrise - Hast thou a Flag for me?
At Midnight, I am but a Maid,
How short it takes to make a Bride -
Then - Midnight, I have passed from thee
Unto the East, and Victory -

Midnight - Good Night! I hear them call,
The Angels bustle in the Hall -
Softly my Future climbs the Stair,
I fumble at my Childhood's prayer
So soon to be a Child no more-
Eternity, I'm coming - Sir,
Savior - I've seen the face - before!

C. 1862 1929


462


Why make it doubt - It hurts it so -
So sick - to guess -
So strong - to know -
So brave - upon its little Bed
To tell the very last They said
Unto Itself - and smile - And shake -
For that dear - distant - dangerous - Sake -
But - the Instead - the Pinching fear
That Something - it did do - or dare -
Offend the Vision - and it flee -
And They no more remember me -
Nor ever turn to tell me why -
Oh, Master, This is Misery -

C. 1862 1929


463


I live with Him - I see His face -
I go no more away
For Visitor - or Sundown -
Death's single privacy

The Only One - forestalling Mine -
And that - by Right that He
Presents a Claim invisible -
No wedlock - granted Me -

I live with Him - I hear His Voice -
I stand alive - Today -
To witness to the Certainty
Of Immortality -

Taught Me - by Time - the lower Way -
Conviction - Every day -
That Life like This - is stopless -
Be Judgment - what it may -

C. 1862 1896


464


The power to be true to You,
Until upon my face
The Judgment push His Picture -
Presumptuous of Your Place-

Of This - Could Man deprive Me -
Himself - the Heaven excel -
Whose invitation - Yours reduced
Until it showed too small -

C. 1862 1929


465


I heard a Fly buzz - when I died -
The Stillness in the Room
Was like the Stillness in the Air -
Between the Heaves of Storm -

The Eyes around - had wrung them dry -
And Breaths were gathering firm
For that last Onset - when the King
Be witnessed - in the Room -

I willed my Keepsakes - Signed away
What portion of me be
Assignable - and then it was
There interposed a Fly-

With Blue - uncertain stumbling Buzz -
Between the light - and me -
And then the Windows failed - and then
I could not see to see -

C. 1862 1896


466


'Tis little I - could care for Pearls -
Who own the ample sea -
Or Brooches-when the Emperor -
With Rubles - pelteth me-

Or Gold - who am the Prince of Mines -
Or Diamonds - when have I
A Diadem to fit a Dome -
Continual upon me -

C. 1862 1896


467


We do not play on Graves -
Because there isn't Room -
Besides - it isn't even - it slants
And People come -

And put a Flower on it -
And hang their faces so-
We're fearing that their Hearts will drop -
And crush our pretty play -

And so we move as far
As Enemies - away -
Just looking round to see how far
It is - Occasionally -

C. 1862 1945


468


The Manner of its Death
When Certain it must die -
Tis deemed a privilege to choose -
Twas Major Andre's Way -

When Choice of Life - is past-
There yet remains a Love
Its little Fate to stipulate -

How small in those who love -

The Miracle to tease
With Babble of the styles-
How "they are Dying mostly - now" -
And Customs at "St. James'"

C. 1862 1945


469


The Red - Blaze - is the Morning -
The Violet - is Noon -
The Yellow - Day - is falling-
And after that - is none -

But Miles of Sparks - at Evening -
Reveal the Width that burned -
The Territory Argent - that
Never yet - consumed -

C. 1862 1945


470


I am alive - I guess -
The Branches on my Hand
Are full of Morning Glory -
And at my finger's end-

The Carmine - tangles warm -
And if I hold a Glass
Across my Mouth - it blurs it -
Physician's - proof of Breath -

I am alive - because
I am not in a Room-
The Parlor - Commonly - It is -
So Visitors may come -

And lean - and view it sidewise -
And add "How cold - it grew" -
And 'Was it conscious - when it stepped
In Immortality'"

I am alive - because
I do not own a House -
Entitled to myself - precise -
And fitting no one else-

And marked my Girlhood's name -
So Visitors may know
Which Door is mine - and not mistake -
And try another Key -

How good - to be alive!
How infinite - to be
Alive - two-fold - The Birth I had -
And this - besides, in - Thee!

C. 1862 1945


471


A Night - there lay the Days between -
The Day that was Before-
And Day that was Behind - were one -
And now- 'twas Night - was here -

Slow - Night - that must be watched away -
As Grains upon a shore -
Too unperceptible to note-
Till it be night- no more -

1862 1945


472


I am ashamed - I hide -
What right have I - to be a Bride -
So late a Dowerless Girl -
Nowhere to hide my dazzled Face -
No one to teach me that new Grace -
Nor introduce-my Soul -

Me to adorn - How - tell -
Trinket - to make Me beautlful -
Fabrics of Cashmere -
Never a Gown of Dun - more -
Raiment instead - of Pompadour-
For Me - My soul - to wear -

Fingers - to frame my Round Hair
Oval - as Feudal Ladles wore -
Far Fashions - Fair -
Skill- to hold my Brow like an Earl -
Plead -like a Whippoorwill -
Prove - like a Pearl -
Then, for Character -

Except the Heaven had come so near -
So seemed to choose My Door -
The Distance would not haunt me so -
I had not hoped - before -

But just to hear the Grace depart -
I never thought to see -
Afflicts me with a Double loss -
'Tis lost - And lost to me -

1862 1891


473


Fashion My Spirit quaint - white -
Quick-like a Liquor -
Gay - like Light -
Bring Me my best Pride -
No more ashamed -
No more to hide -
Meek - let it be - too proud - for Pride -
Baptlzed - this Day - A Bride -

1862 1929


474


They put Us far apart-
As separate as Sea
And Her unsown Peninsula -
We signified "These see" -

They took away our Eyes-
They thwarted Us with Guns-
"I see Thee" each responded straight
Through Telegraphic Signs-

With Dungeons - They devised -
But through their thickest skill -
And their opaquest Adamant -
Our Souls saw- just as well -

They summoned us to die -
With sweet alacrity
We stood upon our stapled feet -
Condemned - but just - to see -

Permission to recant -
Permission to forget -
We turned our backs upon the Sun
For perjury of that -

Not Either - noticed Death -
Of Paradise - aware -
Each other's Face - was all the Disc
Each other's setting - saw -

1862 1935


475


Doom is the House without the Door -
Tis entered from the Sun -
And then the Ladder's thrown away,
Because Escape - is done -

'Tis varied by the Dream
Of what they do outsIde -
Where Squirrels play - and Berries die -
And Hemlocks - bow - to God -

1862 1929


476


I meant to have but modest needs -
Such as Content - and Heaven -
Within my income - these could lie
And Life and I - keep even -

But since the last - included both -
It would suffice my Prayer
But just for One - to stipulate -
And Grace would grant the Pair -

And so - upon this wise - I prayed -
Great Spirit - Give to me
A Heaven not so large as Yours,
But large enough - for me -

A Smile suffused Jehovah's face -
The Cherubim - withdrew-
Grave Saints stole out to look at me -
And showed their dimples - too-

I left the Place, with all my might -
I threw my Prayer away -
The Quiet Ages picked it up -
And Judgment - twinkled - too -

That one so honest - be extant -
It take the Tale for true -
That "Whatsoever Ye shall ask -
Itself be given You" -

But I, grown shrewder - scan the Skies
With a suspicious Air -
As Children - swindled for the first
All Swindlers - be - infer -　　　　　　NOTES

C. 1862 1891


477


No Man can compass a Despair -
As round a Goalless Road
No faster than a Mile at once
The Traveller proceed -

Unconscious of the Width -
Unconscious that the Sun
Be setting on His progress -
So accurate the One

At estimating Pain-
Whose own - has just begun -
His ignorance - the Angel
That pilot Him along -

C. 1862 1935


478


I had no time to Hate -
Because The Grave would hinder Me -
And Life was not so
Ample I
Could finish - Enmity -
Nor had I time to Love -
But since
Some Industry must be-

The little Toil of Love-
I thought
Be large enough for Me -

1862 1890


479


She dealt her pretty words like Blades -
How glittering they shone -
And every One unbared a Nerve
Or wantoned with a Bone -

She never deemed - she hurt -
That - is not Steel's Affalr -
A vulgar grimace in the Flesh -
How ill the Creatures bear -

To Ache is human - not polIte -
The Film upon the eye
Mortality's old Custom -
Just locking up - to Die.

c 1862 1929


480


"Why do I love" You, Sir?
Because -
The Wind does not require the Grass
To answer - Wherefore when He pass
She cannot keep Her place.

Because He knows - and
Do not You -
And We know not -
Enough for Us
The Wisdom it be so -

The Lightning - never asked an Eye
Wherefore it shut - when He was by -
Because He knows it cannot speak -
And reasons not contained -
- Of Talk -
There be - preferred by Daintier Folk -

The Sunrise - Sir - compelleth Me -
Because He's Sunrise - and I see -
Therefore - Then -
I love Thee -


1862 1929


481


The Himmaleh was known to stoop
Unto the Daisy low -
Transported with Compassion
That such a Doll should grow
Where Tent by Tent - Her Universe
Hung out its Flags of Snow -

C. 1862 1935


482


We Cover Thee - Sweet Face -
Not that We tire of Thee -
But that Thyself fatigue of Us -
Remember - as Thou go -
We follow Thee until
Thou notice Us - no more-
And then - reluctant - turn away
To Con Thee o'er and o'er -

And blame the scanty love
We were Content to show -
Augmented - Sweet - a Hundred fold -
If Thou would'st take it - now -

C. 1862 1896


483


A Solemn thing within the Soul
To feel itself get ripe -
And golden hang - while farther up -
The Maker's Ladders stop -
And in the Orchard far below -
You hear a Being - drop -

A Wonderful - to feel the Sun
Still toiling at the Cheek
You thought was finished -
Cool of eye, and critical of Work -
He shifts the stem - a little -
To give your Core - a look -

But solemnest - to know
Your chance in Harvest moves
A little nearer - Every Sun
The Single - to some lives.　　　NOTES

C. 1862 1945


484


My Garden - like the Beach -
Denotes there be - a Sea -
That's Summer -
Such as These - the Pearls
She fetches - such as Me

C. 1862 1935


485


To make One's Toilette - after Death
Has made the Toilette cool
Of only Taste we cared to please
Is difficult, and still -

That's easier - than Braid the Hair -
And make the Bodice gay -
When eyes that fondled it are wrenched
By Decalogues - away -

C. 1862 1935


486


I was the slightest in the House -
I took the smallest Room -
At nIght, my little Lamp, and Book -
And one Geranium -

So stationed I could catch the Mint
That never ceased to fall -
And just my Basket -
Let me think - I'm sure
That this was all -

I never spoke - unless addressed -
And then, 'twas brief and low -
I could not bear to live - aloud -
The Racket shamed me so -

And if it had not been so far -
And anyone I knew
Were going - I had often thought
How noteless - I could die -


1862 1945


487


You love the Lord - you cannot see -
You write Him - every day -
A little note - when you awake -
And further in the Day.

An Ample Letter - How you miss -
And would delight to see -
But then His House - is but a Step -
And Mine's - in Heaven - You see

c. 1862 1945


488


Myself was formed - a Carpenter -
An unpretending time
My Plane - and I, together wrought
Before a Builder came -

To measure Our attainments-
Had we the Art of Boards
Sufficiently developed - He'd hire us
At Halves -

My Tools took Human - Faces -
The Bench, where we had toiled -
Against the Man - persuaded -
We - Temples build - I said -

C. 1862 1935


489


We pray - to Heaven -
We prate - of Heaven -
Relate-when Neighbors die -
At what o'clock to Heaven - they fled -
Who saw them - Wherefore fly?

Is Heaven a Place - a Sky - a Tree?
Location's narrow way is for Ourselves -
Unto the Dead
There's no Geography -

But State - Endowal - Focus -
Where - Omnipresence - fly?

C. 1862 1929



490


To One denied to drink
To tell what Water is
Would be acuter, would it not
Than letting Him surmise?

To lead Him to the Well
And let Him hear it drip
Remind HIm, would it not, somewhat
Of His condemned lip?

C. 1862 1945


491


While it is alive
Until Death touches It
While it and I lap one Air
Dwell in one Blood
Under one Sacrament
Show me Division can split or pare -

Love is like life - merely longer
Love is like Death, during the Grave
Love is the Fellow of the Resurrection
Scooping up the Dust and chanting "Live"!

C. 1862 1945


492


Civilization - spurns - the Leopard!
Was the Leopard - bold?
Deserts - never rebuked her Satin -
Ethiop - her Gold -
Tawny - her Customs -
She was Conscious -
Spotted - her Dun Gown -
This was the Leopard's nature - Signor -
Need - a keeper - frown?

Pity - the Pard - that left her Asia -
Memories - of Palm -
Cannot be stifled - with Narcotic -
Nor suppressed - with Balm -

C. 1862 1945


493


The World - stands - solemner - to me -
Since I was wed - to Him -
A modesty befits the soul
That bears another's - name -
A doubt - if it be faIr - indeed-
To wear that perfect - pearl -
The Man - upon the Woman - binds -
To clasp her soul - for all -
A prayer, that it more angel - prove -
A whiter Gift - within -
To that munificence, that chose -
So unadorned - a Queen -
A Gratitude - that such be true -
It had esteemed the Dream -
Too beautIful - for Shape to prove -
Or posture - to redeem!

C. 1862 1945


494


Going to Him! Happy letter!
Tell Him -
Tell Him the page I didn't write -
Tell Him - I only said the Syntax -
And left the Verb and the pronoun out -
Tell Him just how the fingers hurried -
Then - how they waded - slow - slow -
And then you wished you had eyes in your pages -
So you could see what moved them so -

Tell Him - it wasn't a Practised Writer -
You guessed - from the way the sentence toiled -
You could hear the Bodice tug, behind you -
As if it held but the might of a child -
You almost pitied it - you - it worked so -
Tell Him - no - you may quibble there -
For it would split His Heart, to know it -
And then you and I, were silenter.

Tell Him - Night finished - before we finished -
And the Old Clock kept neighing "Day"!
And you - got sleepy - and begged to be ended -
What could it hinder so - to say?
Tell Him - just how she sealed you - Cautious!
But - if He ask where you are hid
Until tomorrow - Happy letter!
Gesture Coquette - and shake your Head!

Version I
C. 1862 1891


Going - to - Her!
Happy - Letter! Tell Her -
Tell Her - the page I never wrote!
Tell Her, I only said - the Syntax -
And left the Verb and the Pronoun - out!
Tell Her just how the fingers - hurried -
Then - how they - stammered - slow - slow -
And then - you wished you had eyes - in your pages -
So you could see - what moved - them - so-

Tell Her - it wasn't a practised writer -
You guessed - From the way the sentence - toiled -
You could hear the Bodice - tug - behind you -
As if it held but the nught of a child!
You almost pitied - it - you - it worked so-
Tell Her - No - you may quibble - there -
For it would split Her Heart - to know It -
And then - you and I - were silenter!
Tell Her - Day - finished - before we - finished -
And the old Clock kept neighing - "Day"!
And you - got sleepy - and begged to be ended -
What could-it hinder so-to say?
Tell Her - just how she sealed - you - Cautious!
But - if she ask "where you are hid" - until the evening -
Ah! Be bashful!
Gesture Coquette -
And shake your Head!

Version II
C. 1862 1955



495


It's thoughts - and just One Heart -
And Old Sunshine - about -
Make frugal - Ones - Content -
And two or three - for Company -
Upon a Holiday -
Crowded - as Sacrament -

Books - when the Unit -
Spare the Tenant - long eno' -
A Picture - if it Care -
Itself - a Gallery too rare -
For needing more -

Flowers - to keep the Eyes - from going awkward -
When it snows -
A Bird - if they - prefer -
Though Winter fire - sing clear as Plover -
To our - ear -

A Landscape - not so great
To suffocate the Eye -
A Hill - perhaps -
Perhaps - the profile of a Mill
Turned by the Wind -
Tho' such - are luxuries -

It's thoughts - and just two Heart -
And Heaven - about -
At least - a Counterfeit -
We would not have Correct -
And Immortality - can be almost -
Not quite - Content -

C. 1862 1935


496


As far from pity, as complaint -
As cool to speech - as stone -
As numb to Revelation
As if my Trade were Bone -

As far from Time - as History -
As near yourself - Today -
As Children, to the Rainbow's scarf -
Or Sunset' s Yellow play

To eyelids in the Sepulchre -
How dumb the Dancer lies -
While Color's Revelations break -
And blaze - the Butterflies!

C. 1862 1896


497


He strained my faith -
Did he find it supple?
Shook my strong trust -
Did it then - yield?

Hurled my belief-
But - did he shatter - it?
Racked - with suspense -
Not a nerve failed!

Wrung me - with Anguish -
But I never doubted him'
Tho' for what wrong
He did never say-

Stabbed - while I sued
His sweet forgiveness -
Jesus - it's your little "John"!
Don't you know - me?

C. 1862 1945


498


I envy Seas, whereon He rides -
I envy Spokes of Wheels
Of Chariots, that Him convey -
I envy Crooked Hills

That gaze upon His journey -
How easy All can see
What is forbidden utterly
As Heaven - unto me!

I envy Nests of Sparrows -
That dot His distant Eaves -
The wealthy Fly, upon His Pane -
The happy - happy Leaves-

That Just abroad His Window
Have Summer's leave to play -
The Ear Rings of Pizarro
Could not obtain for me -

I envy Light - that wakes Him -
And Bells - that boldly ring
To tell Him it is Noon, abroad -
Myself - be Noon to Him -

Yet interdict - my Blossom -
And abrogate - my Bee -
Lest Noon in Everlasting Night -
Drop Gabriel - and Me -

C. 1862 1896


499


Those fair - fictitious People -
The Women - plucked away
From our familiar Lifetime -
The Men of Ivory-

Those Boys and Girls, in Canvas -
Who stay upon the Wall
In Everlasting Keepsake -
Can Anybody tell?

We trust - in places perfecter -
Inheriting Delight
Beyond our faint Conjecture -
Our dizzy Estimate-

Remembering ourselves, we trust -
Yet Blesseder - than We -
Through Knowing - where We only hope -
Receiving - where we - pray -

Of Expectation - also -
Anticipating us
With transport, that would be a pain
Except for Holiness-

Esteeming us - as Exile-
Themself - admitted Home -
Through easy Miracle of Death -
The Way ourself, must come -

C. 1862 1929


500


Within my Garden, rides a Bird
Upon a Single Wheel -
Whose spokes a dizzy Music make
As 'twere a travelling Mill -

He never stops, but slackens
Above the Ripest Rose -
Partakes without alighting
And praises as he goes,

Till every spice is tasted -
And then his Fairy Gig
Reels in remoter atmospheres -
And I rejoin my Dog.

And He and I, perplex us
If positive, 'twere we -
Or bore the Garden in the Brain
This Curiosity -

But He, the best Logician,
Refers my clumsy eye -
To just vibrating Blossoms!
An Exquisite Reply!

C. 1862 1929


501


This World is not Conclusion.
A SpecIes stands beyond -
Invisible, as Music -
But positIve, as Sound-
It beckons, and it baffles -
Philosophy - don't know-
And through a Riddle, at the last -
Sagacity, must go -
To guess it, puzzles scholars -
To gain it, Men have borne
Contempt of Generations
And CrucifixIon, shown-
Faith slips - and laughs, and rallies -
Blushes, If any see -
Plucks at a twig of Evidence -
And asks a Vane, the way -
Much Gesture, from the Pulpit -
Strong Hallelujahs roll -
Narcotics cannot still the Tooth
That nibbles at the soul -

C. 1862 1896


502


At least - to pray - is left - is left -
Oh Jesus - in the Air -
I know not which thy chamber is -
I'm knocking - everywhere -

Thou settest Earthquake in the South -
And Maelstrom, in the Sea-
Say, Jesus Chnst of Nazareth-
Hast thou no Arm for Me?

C. 1862 1891


503


Better - than Music! For I - who heard it -
I was used - to the Birds - before -
This - was different - 'Twas Translation -
Of all tunes I knew - and more -

'T wasn't contained - like other stanza -
No one could play it - the second time -
But the Composer - perfect Mozart -
Perish with him - that Keyless Rhyme!

So - Children - told how Brooks In Eden -
Bubbled a better - Melody -
Quaintly infer - Eve's great surrender -
Urging the feet - that would - not - fly -

Children - matured - are wiser - mostly -
Eden - a legend - dimly told -
Eve - and the Anguish - Grandame's story -
But - I was telling a tune - I heard -

Not such a strain - the Church - baptizes
When the last Saint - goes up the Aisles -
Not such a stanza splits the silence -
When the Redemption strikes her Bells -

Let me not spill - its smallest cadence -
Humming - for promise - when alone -
Humming - until my faint Rehearsal -
Drop into tune - around the Throne-

C. 1862 1945


504


You know that Portrait in the Moon -
So tell me who 'tis like -
The very Brow - the stooping eyes -
A-fog for - Say - Whose Sake?

The very Pattern of the Cheek -
It varies - in the Chin -
But - Ishmael - since we met - 'tis long -
And fashions - intervene -

When Moon's at full- 'Tis Thou - I say -
My lips just hold the name-
When crescent - Thou art worn - I note -
But - there - the Golden Same -

And when - Some Night - Bold - slashing Clouds
Cut Thee away from Me -
That's easier - than the other film
That glazes Holiday-

C. 1862 1935


505


I would not paint - a picture -
I'd rather be the One
Its bright Impossibility
To dwell - delicious - on -
And wonder how the fingers feel
Whose rare - celestial - stir -
Evokes so sweet a Torment -
Such sumptuous - Despair -

I would not talk, like Cornets -
I'd rather be the One
Raised softly to the Ceilings -
And out, and easy on -
Through Villages of Ether -
Myself endued Balloon
By but a lip of Metal-
The pier to my Pontoon -

Nor would I be a Poet-
It's finer - own the Ear-
Enamored - Impotent - content-
The License to revere,
A privilege so awful
What would the Dower be,
Had I the Art to stun myself
with Bolts of Melody!

C. 1862 1945


506


He touched me, so I live to know
That such a day, permItted so,
I groped upon his breast -
It was a boundless place to me
And Silenced, as the awful sea
Puts minor streams to rest.

And now, I'm different from before,
As if I breathed superior alr -
Or brushed a Royal Gown -
My feet, too, that had wandered so -
My Gypsy face - transfigured now -
To tenderer Renown -

Into this Port, if I might come,
Rebecca, to Jerusalem,
Would not so ravished turn -
Nor Persian, baffled at her shrine
Lift such a Crucifixal sign
To her imperial Sun.

c. 1862 1896


507


She sights a Bird - she chuckles -
She flattens - then she crawls -
She runs without the look of feet -
Her eyes increase to Balls -

Her Jaws stir - twitching - hungry -
Her Teeth can hardly stand -
She leaps, but Robin leaped the first -
Ah, Pussy, of the Sand,

The Hopes so Juicy ripening -
You almost bathed your Tongue -
When Bliss disclosed a hundred Toes -
And fled with every one -

C. 1862 1945


508


I'm ceded - I've stopped being Theirs -
The name They dropped upon my face
with water, in the country church
Is finished using, now,
And They can put it with my Dolls,
My childhood, and the string of spools,
I've finished threading- too -

Baptized, before, without the choice,
But this time, consciously, of Grace -
Unto supremest name -
Called to my Full - The Crescent dropped -
Existence's whole Arc, filled up,
With one small Diadem.

My second Rank - too small the first -
Crowned - Crowing - on my Father's breast -
A half unconscious Queen -
But this time - Adequate - Erect,
With will to choose, or to reject,
And I choose, just a Crown -

C. 1862 1890


509


If anybody's friend be dead
It's sharpest of the theme
The thinking how they walked alive -
At such and such a time -

Their costume, of a Sunday,
Some manner of the Hair -
A prank nobody knew but them
Lost, in the Sepulchre-

How warm, they were, on such a day,
You almost feel the date -
So short way off it seems -
And now - they're Centuries from that-

How pleased they were, at what you said -
You try to touch the smile
And dip your fingers in the frost -
When was it - Can you tell-

You asked the Company to tea -
Acquaintance - just a few -
And chatted close with this Grand Thing
That don't remember you -

Past Bows, and Invitations -
Past Interview, and Vow -
Past what Ourself can estimate -
That - makes the Quick of Woe!

C. 1862


510


It was not Death, for I stood up,
And all the Dead, lie down -
It was not Night, for all the Bells
Put out theIr Tongues, for Noon.

It was not Frost, for on my Flesh
I felt Siroccos - crawl -
Nor Fire - for just my Marble feet
Could keep a Chancel, cool -

And yet, it tasted, like them all,
The Figures I have seen
Set orderly, for Burial,
Reminded me, of mine -

As if my life were shaven,
And fitted to a frame,
And could not breathe without a key,
And 'twas like Midnight, some -

When everything that ticked - has stopped -
And Space stares all around-
Or Grisly frosts - first Autumn morns,
Repeal the Beating Ground -

But, most, like Chaos - Stopless - cool -
Without a Chance, or Spar -
Or even a Report of Land -
To justify - Despair.

C. 1862


511


If you were coming in the Fall,
I'd brush the Summer by
With half a smile, and half a spurn,
As Housewives do, a Fly.

If I could see you in a year,
I'd wind the months in balls -
And put them each in separate Drawers,
For fear the numbers fuse-

If only Centuries, delayed,
I'd count them on my Hand,
Subtracting, till my fingers dropped
Into Van Dieman's Land.

If certain, when this life was out -
That yours and mine, should be
I'd toss it yonder, like a Rind,
And take Eternity -

But, now, uncertain of the length
Of this, that is between,
It goads me, like the Goblin Bee-
That will not state - its sting.

C. 1862 1890


512


The Soul has Bandaged moments -
When too appalled to stir -
She feels some ghastly Fright come up
And stop to look at her -

Salute her - with long fingers -
Caress her freezing hair -
Sip, Goblin, from the very lips
The Lover - hovered - 0' er -
Unworthy, that a thought so mean
Accost a Theme - so - fair -

The soul has moments of Escape -
When bursting all the doors -
She dances like a Bomb, abroad,
And swings upon the Hours,

As do the Bee - delirious borne -
Long Dungeoned from hls Rose -
Touch Liberty - then know no more,
But Noon, and Paradise -

The Soul's retaken moments -
When, Felon led along,
With shackles on the plumed feet,
And staples, in the Song,

The Horror welcomes her, again,
These, are not brayed of Tongue -

1862 1945


513


Like Flowers, that heard the news of Dews,
But never deemed the dripping prize
Awaited their - low Brows ....

Or Bees - that thought the Summer's name
Some rumor of Delirium,
No Summer - could - for Them -

Or Arctic Creatures, dimly stirred -
By Tropic Hint - some Travelled Bird
Imported to the Word -

Or Wind's bright signal to the Ear -
Making that homely, and severe,
Contented, known, before -

The Heaven - unexpected come,
To Lives that thought the Worshipping
A too presumptuous Psalm -

C. 1862 1890


514


Her smile was shaped like other smiles -
The Dimples ran along　-
And still it hurt you, as some Bird
Did hoist herself, to sing,
Then recollect a Ball, she got -
And hold upon the Twig,
Convulsive, while the Music broke -
Like Beads - among the Bog -

1862 1935


515


No Crowd that has occurred
Exhibit - I suppose
That General Attendance
That Resurrection - does -

Circumference be full -
The long restricted Grave
Assert her Vital Privilege -
The Dust - connect - and live -

On Atoms - features place -
All Multitudes that were
Efface in the Comparison -
As Suns - dissolve a star -

Solemnity - prevail -
Its Individual Doom
Possess each separate Consciousness -
August - Absorbed - Numb -

What Duplicate - exist -
What Parallel can be -
Of the Significance of This -
To Universe - and Me?

C. 1862 1929


516


Beauty - be not caused - It Is -
Chase It, and it ceases -
Chase it not, and it abides -
Overtake the Creases

In the Meadow - when the Wind
Runs his fingers thro' it -
Deity will see to it
That You never do it -

C. 1862 1929


517


He parts Himself - like Leaves -
And then - He closes up -
Then stands upon the Bonnet
Of Any Buttercup -

And then He runs against
And oversets a Rose -
And then does Nothing -
Then away upon a Jib - He goes -

And dangles like a Mote
Suspended in the Noon -
Uncertain - to return Below -
Or settle in the Moon -

What come of Him - at Night -
The privilege to say
Be limited by Ignorance -
What come of Him - That Day -

The Frost - possess the World -
In Cabinets - be shown -
A Sepulchre of quaintest Floss -
An Abbey - a Cocoon -

C. 1862 1935


518


Her sweet Weight on my Heart a Night
Had scarcely deigned to lie -
When, stirring, for Belief's delight,
My Bride had slipped away -

If 'twas a Dream - made solid - just
The Heaven to confirm -
Or if Myself were dreamed of Her -
The power to presume -

With Him remain - who unto Me -
Gave - even as to All -
A Fiction superseding Faith -
By so much - as 'twas real-

C. 1862 1945


519


'Twas warm - at first - like Us -
Until there crept upon
A Chill - like frost upon a Glass -
Till all the scene - be gone.

The Forehead copied Stone -
The Fingers grew too cold
To ache-and like a Skater's Brook -
The busy eyes - congealed-

It straightened- that was all-
It crowded Cold to Cold-
It multiplied indifference-
As Pride were all it could-

And even when with Cords-
'Twas lowered, like a Weight-
It made no Signal, nor demurred,
But dropped like Adamant.

C. 1862 1929


520


I started Early - Took my Dog -
And visited the Sea -
The Mermaids in the Basement
Came out to look at me -

And Frigates - in the Upper Floor
Extended Hempen Hands -
Presuming Me to be a Mouse -
Aground - upon the Sands -

But no Man moved Me - till the Tide
Went past my simple Shoe -
And past my Apron - and my Belt
And past my Bodice - too -

And made as He would eat me up -
As wholly as a Dew
Upon a Dandelion's Sleeve -
And then - I started - too-

And He - He followed - close behind -
I felt His Silver Heel
Upon my Ankle - Then my Shoes
Would overflow with Pearl -

Untll We met the Solid Town -
No One He seemed to know -
And bowing - with a Mighty look -
At me - The Sea withdrew -

C. 1862 1891


521


Endow the Living - with the Tears-
You squander on the Dead,
And They were Men and Women - now,
Around Your Fireside -

Instead of Passive Creatures,
Denied the Cherishing
Till They - the Cherishing deny -
With Death's Ethereal Scorn -

C. 1862 1945


522


Had I presumed to hope -
The loss had been to Me
A Value - for the Greatness' Sake -
As Giants - gone away -

Had I presumed to gain
A Favor so remote -
The failure but confirm the Grace
In further Infinite -

'Tis failure - not of Hope -
But Confident Despair -
Advancing on Celestial Lists -
With faint- Terrestrial power -

'Tis Honor - though I die -
For That no Man obtain
Till He be justified by Death -
This - is the Second Gain -

C. 1862 1929


523


Sweet - You forgot - but I remembered
Every time - for Two -
So that the Sum be never hindered
Through Decay of You -

Say if I erred? Accuse my Farthings -
Blame the little Hand
Happy it be for You - a Beggar's -
Seeking More - to spend -

Just to be Rich - to waste my Guineas
On so Best a Heart -
Just to be Poor - for Barefoot Vision
You - Sweet - Shut me out -

C. 1862 1945


524


Departed - to the Judgment -
A Mighty Afternoon -
Great Clouds - like Ushers - leaning -
Creation -looking on -

The Flesh - Surrendered - Cancelled -
The Bodiless - begun -
Two Worlds - like Audiences - disperse -
And leave the Soul - alone -

C. 1862 1890


525


I think the Hemlock likes to stand
Upon a Marge of Snow -
It suits his own Austerity -
And satisfies an awe

That men, must slake in Wilderness -
And in the Desert - cloy -
An instinct for the Hoar, the Bald -
Lapland's - necessity -

The Hemlock's nature thrives - on cold -
The Gnash of Northern Winds
Is sweetest nutriment - to him -
His best NorwegIan Wines -

To satin Races - he is nought -
But Children on the Don,
Beneath his Tabernacles, play,
And Dnieper Wrestlers, run.

C. 1862 1890


526


To hear an Oriole sing
May be a common thing -
Or only a divine.

It is not of the Bird
Who Sings the same, unheard,
As unto Crowd -

The Fashion of the Ear
Attireth that it hear
In Dun, or fair -

So whether it be Rune,
Or whether it be none
Is of within -

The "Tune is in the Tree -"
The Skeptic - showeth me -
"No Sir! In Thee!"

C. 1862 1891


527


To put this World down, like a Bundle-
And walk steady, away,
Requires Energy - possibly Agony -
'Tis the Scarlet way

Trodden with straight renunciation
By the Son of God -
Later, his faint Confederates
Justify the Road -

Flavors of that old Crucifixion -
Filaments of Bloom, Pontius Pilate sowed -
Strong Clusters, from Barabbas' Tomb-

Sacrament, Saints partook before us -
Patent, every drop,
With the Brand of the Gentile Drinker
Who indorsed the Cup -

C. 1862 1935


528


Mine - by the Right of the White Election!
Mine - by the Royal Seal!
Mine - by the Sign in the Scarlet prison -
Bars - cannot conceal!

Mine - here - in Vision - and in Veto!
Mine - by the Grave's Repeal -
Titled - Confirmed -
Delirious Charter!
Mine - long as Ages steal!

C. 1862 1890


529


I'm sorry for the Dead - Today -
It's such congenial times
Old Neighbors have at fences -
It's time o' year for Hay.

And Broad - Sunburned Acquaintance
Discourse between the Toil -
And laugh, a homely species
That makes the Fences smile-

It seems so straight to lie away
From all the noise of Fields -
The Busy Carts - the fragrant Cocks -
The Mower's Metre - Steals

A Trouble lest they're homesick -
Those Farmers - and their Wives -
Set separate from the Farming -
And all the Neighbors' lives -

A Wonder if the Sepulchre
Don't feel a lonesome way -
When Men - and Boys - and Carts - and June,
Go down the Fields to "Hay" -

C. 1862 1929


530


You cannot put a Fire out -
A Thing that can ignite
Can go, itself, without a Fan -
Upon the slowest Night -

You cannot fold a Flood -
And put it in a Drawer-
Because the Winds would find it out -
And tell your Cedar Floor-

C. 1862 189


531


We dream - it is good we are dreaming -
It would hurt us - were we awake -
But since it is playing - kill us,
And we are playing - shriek -

What harm? Men die - externally -
It is a truth-of Blood -
But we - are dying in Drama -
And Drama - is never dead -

Cautious - We jar each other -
And either - open the eyes -
Lest the Phantasm - prove the Mistake-
And the livid Surprise

Cool us to Shafts of Granite -
With just an Age - and Name -
And perhaps a phrase in Egyptian -
It's prudenter - to dream -

C. 1862 1935


532


I tried to think a lonelier Thing
Than any I had seen -
Some Polar Expiation - An Omen in the Bone
Of Death's tremendous nearness -

I probed Retrieveless things
My Duplicate - to borrow -
A Haggard Comfort springs

From the belief that Somewhere -
Within the Clutch of Thought -
There dwells one other Creature
Of Heavenly Love - forgot -

I plucked at our Partition
As One should pry the Walls -
Between Himself - and Horror's Twin -
Within Opposing Cells -

I almost strove to clasp his Hand,
Such Luxury - it grew -
That as Myself - could pity Him -
Perhaps he - pitied me -

C. 1862 1945


533


Two Butterflies went out at Noon -
And waltzed upon a Farm -
Then stepped straight through the Firmament
And rested, on a Beam -

And then - together bore away
Upon a shining Sea -
Though never yet, in any Port -
Their coming, mentioned - be -

If spoken by the distant Bird -
If met in Ether Sea
By Frigate, or by Merchantman -
No notice - was - to me -

C. 1862 1891


534


We see - Comparatively -
The Thing so towering high
We could not grasp its segment
Unaided - Yesterday -

This Morning's finer Verdict -
Makes scarcely worth the toil -
A furrow - Our Cordillera -
Our Apennine - a Knoll -

Perhaps 'tis kindly - done us -
The Anguish - and the loss -
The wrenching - for His Firmament
The Thing belonged to us -

To spare these Striding Spirits
Some Morning of Chagrin -
The waking in a Gnat's - embrace -
Our Giants - further on -

C. 1862 1929


535


She's happy, with a new Content -
That feels to her - like Sacrament -
She's busy - with an altered Care -
As just apprenticed to the Air -

She's tearful- if she weep at all -
For blissful Causes - Most of all
That Heaven permit so meek as her -
To such a Fate - to Minister.


C. 1862 1935


536


The Heart asks Pleasure - first -
And then - Excuse from Pain -
And then - those little Anodynes
That deaden suffering-

And then - to go to sleep -
And then - if it should be
The will of its Inquisitor
The privilege to die -

C. 1862 1890


537


Me prove it now - Whoever doubt
Me stop to prove it - now -
Make haste - the Scruple! Death be scant
For Opportunity -

The River reaches to my feet -
As yet - My Heart be dry -
Oh Lover - Life could not convince -
Might Death - enable Thee -

The River reaches to My Breast -
Still - still - My Hands above
Proclaim with their remaining Might -
Dost recognize the Love?

The River reaches to my Mouth -
Remember - when the Sea
Swept by my searching eyes - the last -
Themselves were quick - With Thee!

C. 1862 1935


538


'Tis true - They shut me in the Cold -
But then - Themselves were warm
And could not know the feeling 'twas -
Forget it - Lord - of Them-

Let not my Witness hinder Them
In Heavenly esteem -
No Paradise could be - Conferred
Through Their beloved Blame -

The Harm They did - was short - And since
Myself - who bore it - do -
Forgive Them - Even as Myself -
Or else - forgive not me -

C. 1862 1945


539


The Province of the Saved
Should be the Art - To save -
Through Skill obtained in Themselves -
The Science of the Grave

No Man can understand
But He that hath endured
The Dissolution - in Himself -
That Man - be qualified

To qualify Despair
To Those who failing new-
Mistake Defeat for Death - Each time -
Till acclimated - to -

C. 1862 1935


540


I took my Power in my Hand -
And went against the World -
Twas not so much as David - had -
But I - was twice as bold -

I aimed my Pebble - but Myself
Was all the one that fell -
Was it Goliah - was too large -
Or was myself - too small?

C. 1862 1891


541


Some such Butterfly be seen
On Brazilian Pampas -
Just at noon - no later - Sweet -
Then - the License closes -

Some such Spice - express and pass -
Subject to Your Plucking -
As the Stars - You knew last Night -
Foreigners - This Morning -

C. 1862 1935


542


I had no Cause to be awake-
My Best - was gone to sleep -
And Morn a new politeness took -
And failed to wake them up -

But called the others - clear -
And passed their Curtains by -
Sweet Morning - When I oversleep -
Knock - Recollect - to Me -

I looked at Sunrise - Once -
And then I looked at Them -
And wishfulness in me arose -
For Circumstance the same -

'Twas such an Ample Peace -
It could not hold a Sigh -
'Twas Sabbath - with the Bells divorced -
Twas Sunset - all the Day-

So choosing but a Gown -
And taking but a Prayer-
The only Raiment I should need-
I struggled - and was There -

C. 1862 1891


543


I fear a Man of frugal Speech -
I fear a Silent Man -
Haranguer - I can overtake -
Or Babbler - entertain -

But He who weigheth - While the Rest -
Expend their furthest pound -
Of this Man - I am wary -
I fear that He is Grand -

1862 1929


544


The Martyr Poets - did not tell -
But wrought their Pang in syllable -
That when their mortal name be numb -
Their mortal fate - encourage Some -

The Martyr Painters - never spoke -
Bequeathing - rather - to their Work -
That when their conscious fingers cease -
Some seek in Art - the Art of Peace -

C. 1862 1935


545


'Tis One by One - the Father counts -
And then a Tract between
Set Cypherless - to teach the Eye
The Value of its Ten -

Until the peevish Student
Acquire the Quick of Skill -
Then Numerals are dowered back -
Adorning all the Rule -

'Tis mostly Slate and Pencil -
And Darkness on the School
Distracts the Children's fingers -
Still the Eternal Rule

Regards least Cypherer alike
With Leader of the Band-
And every separate Urchin's Sum -
Is fashioned for his hand -

C. 1862 1945


546


To fill a Gap
Insert the Thing that caused it -
Block it up
With Other - and 'twill yawn the more -
You cannot solder an Abyss
With Air.

c 1862 1929


547


I've seen a Dying Eye
Run round and round a Room -
In search of Something - as it seemed -
Then Cloudier become -
And then - obscure with Fog -
And then - be soldered down
Without disclosing what it be
'Twere blessed to have seen -

C. 1862 1890


548


Death is potential to that Man
Who dies - and to his friend -
Beyond that - unconspicuous
To Anyone but God -

Of these Two - God remembers
The longest - for the friend -
Is integral - and therefore
Itself dissolved - of God -

C. 1862- 1945


549


That I did always love
I bring thee Proof
That till I loved
I never lived - Enough -

That I shall love alway -
I argue thee
That love is life -
And life hath ImmortalIty -

This - dost thou doubt - Sweet -
Then have I
Nothing to show
But Calvary

C. 1862 1890


550


I cross till I am weary
A Mountain - in my mind -
More Mountains - then a Sea -
More Seas - And then
A Desert - find -

And My Horizon blocks
With steady - drifting - Grains
Of unconjectured quantlty -
As Asiatic Rains -

Nor this - defeat my Pace -
It hinder from the West
But as an Enemy's Salute
One hurrying to Rest -

What merit had the Goal -
Except there intervene
Faint Doubt - and far Competitor -
To jeopardize the Gain?

At last - the Grace to sight -
I shout unto my feet -
I offer them the Whole of Heaven
The instant that we meet -

They strive - and yet delay -
They perish - Do we die -
Or is this Death's Experiment -
Reversed - to Victory?

C. 1862 1891


551


There is a Shame of Nobleness -
Confronting Sudden Pelf -
A finer Shame of Ecstasy -
Convicted of Itself -

A best Disgrace - a Brave Man feels -
Acknowledged - of the Brave -
One More - "Ye Blessed" - to be told -
But that's - Behind the Grave -

C. 1862 1891


552


An ignorance a Sunset
Confer upon the Eye -
Of Territory - Color -
Circumference - Decay -

Its Amber Revelation
Exhilarate - Debase -
Omnipotence' Inspection
Of Our inferior face -

And when the solemn features
Confirm - In Victory -
We start - as if detected
In Immortality -

C. 1862 1935


553


One Crucifixion is recorded - only -
How many be
Is not affirmed of Mathematics -
Or History -

One Calvary - exhibited to Stranger -
As many be
As persons - or Peninsulas -
Gethsemane -

Is but a Province - in the Being's Centre -
Judea - For Journey - or Crusade's Achieving -
Too near -
Our Lord - indeed - made Compound Witness -
And yet -
There's newer - nearer Crucifixion
Than That -

C. 1862 1891


554


The Black Berry - wears a Thorn in his side -
But no Man heard Him cry -
He offers His Berry, just the same
To Partridge - and to Boy -

He sometimes holds upon the Fence -
Or struggles to a Tree -
Or clasps a Rock, with both His Hands -
But not for Sympathy -

We - tell a Hurt - to cool it -
This Mourner - to the Sky
A little further reaches - instead -
Brave Black Berry -

C. 1862 1945


555


Trust in the Unexpected -
By this - was William Kidd
Persuaded of the Buried Gold -
As One had testlfied -

Through this - the old Philosopher -
His Talismanic Stone
Discerned - still withholden
To effort undivine-

'Twas this - allured Columbus -
When Genoa - withdrew
Before an Apparition
BaptIzed America-

The Same - afflicted Thomas -
When Deity assured
'Twas better - the perceiving not -
Provided it believed -

C. 1862 1945


556


The Brain, within lts Groove
Runs evenly - and true -
But let a Splinter swerve -
Twere easier for You -

To put a Current back -
When Floods have slit the Hills -
And scooped a Turnpike for Themselves -
And trodden out the Mills -

C. 1862 1890


557


She hideth Her the last -
And is the first, to rise -
Her Night doth hardly recompense
The Closing of Her eyes -

She doth Her Purple Work -
And putteth Her away
In low Apartments in the Sod -
As Worthily as We.

To imitate Her life
As impotent would be
As make of Our Imperfect Mints,
The Julep - of the Bee -

C. 1862 1935


558


But little Carmine hath her face-
Of Emerald scant - her Gown -
Her Beauty - is the love she doth -
Itself - exhibit - Mine -

1935


559


It knew no Medicine -
It was not Sickness - then -
Nor any need of Surgery -
And therefore - 'twas not Pain -

It moved away the Cheeks -
A Dimple at a time -
And left the Profile - plainer -
And in the place of Bloom

It left the little Tint
That never had a Name -
You've seen it on a Cast's face -
Was Paradise - to blame -

If momently ajar -
Temerity - drew near -
And sickened - ever afterward
For Somewhat that it saw?

C. 1862 1935


560


It knew no lapse, nor Diminution -
But large - serene-
Burned on - until through Dissolution -
It failed from Men -
I could not deem these Planetary forces
Annulled-
But suffered an Exchange of Territory -
Or World -

C. 1862 1945


561


I measure every Grief I meet
With narrow, probing, Eyes-
I wonder if it weighs like Mine -
Or has an Easier size.

I wonder if They bore it long -
Or did it just begin -
I could not tell the Date of Mine -
It feels so old a pain -

I wonder if it hurts to live -
And if They have to try -
And whether - could They choose between -
It would not be - to die-

I note that Some - gone patient long -
At length, renew their smile-
An Imitation of a Light
That has so little Oil -

I wonder if when Years have piled -
Some Thousands - on the Harm -
That hurt them early - such a lapse
Could gIve them any Balm -

Or would they go on aching still
Through Centuries of Nerve -
Enlightened to a larger Pain -
In Contrast with the Love -

The Grieved - are many - I am told -
There is the various Cause -
Death - is but one - and comes but once -
And only nails the eyes -

There's Grief of Want - and Grief of Cold -
A sort they call "Despair" -
There's Banishment from native Eyes -
In sight of Native Air -

And though I may not guess the kind -
Correctly - yet to me
A piercing Comfort it affords
In passing Calvary -

To note the fashions - of the Cross -
And how they're mostly worn-
Still fascinated to presume
That Some - are like My Own -

C. 1862 1896


562


Conjecturing a Climate
Of unsuspended Suns -
Adds poignancy to Winter -
The Shivering Fancy turns
To a fictitious Country
To palliate a Cold-
Not obviated of Degree-
Nor eased - of Latitude -

C. 1862 1929


563


I could not prove the Years had feet-
Yet confident they run
Am I, from symptoms that are past
And Series that are done -

I find my feet have further Goals -
I smile upon the Aims
That felt so ample - Yesterday -
Today's-have vaster claims -

I do not doubt the self I was
Was competent to me -
But something awkward In the fit -
Proves that - outgrown - I see -

C. 1862 1945


564


My period had come for Prayer -
No other Art - would do -
My Tactics missed a rudiment -
Creator - Was it you?

God grows above - so those who pray
Horizons- must ascend -
And so I stepped upon the North
To see this Curious Friend -

His House was not - no sign had He -
By Chimney - nor by Door
Could I infer his Residence -
Vast Prairies of Air

Unbroken by a Settler -
Were all that I could see -
Infinitude - Had'st Thou no Face
That I might look on Thee?

The Silence condescended -
Creation stopped - for Me -
But awed beyond my errand -
I worshipped - did not "pray" -

c. 1862 1929


565


One Anguish - in a Crowd -
A Minor thing - it sounds -
And yet, unto the single Doe
Attempted of the Hounds

'Tis Terror as consummate
As Legions of Alarm
Did leap, full Banked, upon the Host -
'Tis Units - make the Swarm -

A Small Leech - on the Vitals -
The sliver, in the Lung -
The Bung out - of an Artery -
Are scarce accounted - Harms -

Yet mighty - by relation
To that Repealless thing -
A Being - impotent to end -
When once it has begun -

C. 1862 1945


566


A Dying Tiger - moaned for Drink -
I hunted all the Sand -
I caught the Dripping of a Rock
And bore it in my Hand -

His Mighty Balls - in death were thick -
But searching - I could see
A Vision on the Retina
Of Water - and of me-

'Twas not my blame - who sped too slow -
Twas not his blame - who died
While I was reaching him -
But 'twas - the fact that He was dead -

C. 1862 1945


567


He gave away his Life -
To Us - Gigantic Sum -
A trifle - in his own esteem -
But magnified - by Fame-

Until it burst the Hearts
That fancied they could hold -
When swift it slipped its limit -
And on the Heavens - unrolled -

'T is Ours - to wince - and weep -
And wonder - and decay
By Blossoms gradual process -
He chose - Maturity -

And quickening - as we sowed -
Just obviated Bud -
And when We turned to note the Growth -
Broke - perfect - from the Pod -

C. 1862 1935


568


We learned the Whole of Love -
The Alphabet - the Words -
A Chapter - then the mighty Book -
Then - Revelation closed -

But In Each Other's eyes
An Ignorance beheld -
Diviner than the Childhood's -
And each to each, a Child -

Attempted to expound
What Neither - understood -
Alas, that Wisdom is so large -
And Truth - so manifold -

C. 1862 1945


569


I reckon - when I count at all -
First - Poets - Then the Sun-
Then Summer - Then the Heaven of God -
And then - the List is done -

But, looking back - the First so seems
To Comprehend the Whole -
The Others look a needless Show -
So I write - Poets - All -

Their Summer - lasts a Solid Year -
They can afford a Sun
The East - would deem extravagant -
And if the Further Heaven -

Be Beautiful as they prepare
For Those who worship Them -
It is too difficult a Grace -
To justify the Dream -　　　　NOTES

C. 1862 1929


570


I could die - to know -
'Tis a trifling knowledge -
News - Boys salute the Door -
Carts - joggle by -
Morning's bold face - stares in the window -
Were but mine - the Charter of the least Fly-

Houses hunch the House
With their Brick Shoulders-
Coals - from a Rolling Load - rattle - how - near -
To the very Square - His foot is passing -
Possibly, this moment -
While I - dream - Here -

C. 1862 1935


571


Must be a Woe -
A loss or so -
To bend the eye
Best Beauty's way -

But - once aslant
It notes Delight
As difficult
As Stalactite

A Common Bliss
Were had for less -
The price - is
Even as the Grace -
Our lord - thought no
Extravagance
To pay - a Cross -

C. 1862 1935


572


Delight - becomes pictorial -
When viewed through Pain -
More fair - because impossible
That any gain -

The Mountain - at a given distance -
In Amber - lies -
Approached - the Amber Hits - a little -
And That's - the Skies -

C. 1862 1891


573


The Test of Love - is Death -
Our Lord - "so loved" - it saith -
What Largest Lover - hath -
Another - doth -

If smaller Patience - be -
Through less Infinity -
If Bravo, sometimes swerve -
Through fainter Nerve -

Accept its Most-
And overlook - the Dust -
Last - Least -
The Cross' - Request -

C. 1862 1935


574


My first well Day - since many ill -
I asked to go abroad,
And take the Sunshine in my hands,
And see the things in Pod -

A blossom just when I went in
To take my Chance with pain -
Uncertain if myself, or He,
Should prove the strongest One.

The Summer deepened. while we strove -
She put some flowers away -
And Redder cheeked Ones - in their stead -
A fond - illusive way -

To cheat Herself, it seemed she tried -
As if before a child
To fade - Tomorrow - Rainbows held
The Sepulchre, could hide

She dealt a fashion to the Nut -
She tied the Hoods to Seeds-
She dropped bright scraps of Tint, about -
And left Brazilian Threads

On every shoulder that she met -
Then both her Hands of Haze
Put up - to hide her parting Grace
From our unfitted eyes

My loss, by sIckness - Was it Loss?
Or that Ethereal Gain
One earns by measuring the Grave -
Then - measuring the Sun -

C. 1862 1935


575


"Heaven" has different Signs - to me -
Sometimes, I think that Noon
Is but a symbol of the Place -
And when again, at Dawn,

A mighty look runs round the World
And settles in the Hills -
An Awe if it should be like that
Upon the Ignorance steals -

The Orchard, when the Sun is on -
The Triumph of the Birds
When they together Victory make -
Some Carnivals of Clouds -

The Rapture of a finished Day -
Returning to the West -
All these - remind us of the place
That Men call "Paradise" -

Itself be fairer - we suppose -
But how Ourself, shall be
Adorned, for a Superior Grace -
Not yet, our eyes can see -

1929


576


I prayed, at first, a little Girl,
Because they told me to -
But stopped, when qualified to guess
How prayer would feel - to me -

If I believed God looked around,
Each time my Childish eye
Fixed full, and steady, on his own
In Childish honesty -

And told him what I'd like, today,
And parts of his far plan
That baffled me -
The mingled side
Of his Divinity -

And often since, in Danger,
I count the force 'twould be
To have a God so strong as that
To hold my life for me

Till I could take the Balance
That tips so frequent, now,
It takes me all the while to poise -
And then - it doesn't stay -

1929


577


If I may have it, when it's dead,
I'll be contented - so -
If just as soon as Breath is out
It shall belong to me -

Until they lock it in the Grave,
'Tis Bliss I cannot weigh -
For tho' they lock Thee in the Grave,
Myself - can own the key -

Think of it Lover! I and Thee
Permitted - face to face to be -
After a Life - a Death - We'll say -
For Death was That -
And this - is Thee -

I'll tell Thee All - how Bald it grew -
How Midnight felt, at first - to me -
How all the Clocks stopped In the World -
And Sunshine pinched me - 'Twas so cold -

Then how the Grief got sleepy - some -
As if my Soul were deaf and dumb -
Just making signs - across - to Thee -
That this way - thou could'st notice me -

I'll tell you how I tried to keep
A smile, to show you, when this Deep
All Waded - We look back for Play,
At those Old Times - in Calvary.

Forgive me, if the Grave come slow -
For Coveting to look at Thee -
Forgive me, if to stroke thy frost
Outvisions Paradise!

C. 1862 1896


578


The Body grows without -
The more convenient way -
That if the Spirit - like to hide
Its Temple stands, alway,

Ajar - secure - inviting -
It never did betray
The Soul that asked its shelter
In solemn honesty

C. 1862 1891


579


I had been hungry, all the Years -
My Noon had Come - to dine -
I trembling drew the Table near -
And touched the Curious Wine -

'Twas this on tables I had seen -
When turning, hungry, Home
I looked in Windows, for the Wealth
I could not hope - for Mine -

I did not know the ample Bread -
Twas so unlike the Crumb
The Birds and I, had often shared
In Nature's - Dining Room -

The Plenty hurt me - 'twas so new -
Myself felt ill - and odd -
As Berry - of a Mountain Bush -
Transplanted - to the Road -

Nor was I hungry - so I found
That Hunger - was a way
Of Persons outside Windows -
The Entering - takes away -

C. 1862 1891


580


I gave myself to Him -
And took Himself, for Pay,
The solemn contract of a Life
Was ratified, this way -

The Wealth might disappoint -
Myself a poorer prove
Than this great Purchaser suspect,
The Daily Own - of Love

Depreciate the Vision -
But till the Merchant buy-
Still Fable - In the isles of Spice -
The subtle Cargoes - lie -

At least - 'tis Mutual - Risk -
Some - found it - Mutual Gain -
Sweet Debt of Life - Each Night to owe -
Insolvent - every Noon -

C. 1862 1891


581


I found the words to every thought
I ever had - but One -
And that - defies me -
As a Hand did try to chalk the Sun

To Races - nurtured in the Dark -
How would your own - begin?
Can Blaze be shown in Cochineal -
Or Noon - in Mazarin?

C. 1862 1891


582


Inconceivably solemn!
Things so gay
Pierce - by the very Press
Of Imagery -

Their far Parades - order on the eye
With a mute Pomp -
A pleading Pageantry-

Flags, are a brave sight -
But no true Eye
Ever went by One -
Steadily -

Music's triumphant -
But the fine Ear
Winces with delight
Are Drums too near -

C. 1862 1929


583


A Toad, candle of Light -
Death is the Common Right
Of Toads and Men -
Of Earl and Midge
The privilege -
Why swagger, then?
The Gnat's supremacy is large as Thine -

Life - is a different Thing -
So measure Wine -
Naked of Flask - Naked of Cask -
Bare Rhine -
Which Ruby's mine?

C. 1862 1896


584



It ceased to hurt me, though so slow
I could not feel the Anguish go -
But only knew by looking back -
That something - had benumbed the Track -

Nor when it altered, I could say,
For I had worn it, every day,
As constant as the Childish frock-
I hung upon the Peg, at night.

But not the Grief - that nestled close
As needles - ladies softly press
To Cushions Cheeks -
To keep their place -

Nor what consoled it, I could trace -
Except, whereas 'twas Wilderness -
It's better - almost Peace -

C. 1862 1929


585


I like to see it lap the Miles -
And lick the Valleys up -
And stop to feed itself at Tanks -
And then - prodigious step

Around a Pile of Mountains -
And supercilious peer
In Shanties - by the sides of Roads -
And then a Quarry pare

To fit its Ribs
And crawl between
Complaining all the while
In horrid - hooting stanza -
Then chase itself down Hill -

And neigh like Boanerges -
Then - punctual as a Star
Stop - docile and omnipotent
At its own stable door -

C. 1862 1891


586


We talked as Girls do -
Fond, and late -
We speculated fair, on every subject, but the Grave -
Of ours, none affair -

We handled Destinies, as cool -
As we - Disposers - be -
And God, a Quiet Party
To our Authority -

But fondest, dwelt upon Ourself
As we eventual - be -
When Girls to Women, softly raised
We - occupy - Degree -

We parted with a contract
To cherish, and to write
But Heaven made both, impossible
Before another night.

C. 1862 1929


587


Empty my Heart, of Thee -
Its single Artery -
Begin, and leave Thee out -
Simply Extinction's Date -

Much Billow hath the Sea -
One Baltic - They -
Subtract Thyself, in play,
And not enough of me
Is left - to put away -
"Myself - meant Thee -

Erase the Root - no Tree -
Thee - then - no me -
The Heavens stripped -
Eternity's vast pocket, picked -

C. 1862 1929


588


I cried at Pity - not at Pain -
I heard a Woman say
"Poor Child" - and something in her voice
Convicted me - of me -

So long I fainted, to myself
It seemed the common way,
And Health, and Laughter, Curious things -
To look at, like a Toy -

To sometimes hear "Rich people" buy
And see the Parcel rolled -
And carried, I supposed - to Heaven,
For children, made of Gold -

But not to touch, or wish for,
Or think of, with a sigh -
And so and so - had been to me,
Had God willed differently

I Wish I knew that Woman's name -
So when she comes this way,
To hold my Me, and hold my ears
For fear I hear her say

She's "sorry I am dead" - again -
Just when the Grave and I -
Have sobbed ourselves almost to sleep,
Our only Lullaby -

C. 1862 1896


589


The Night was wide, and furnished scant
With but a single Star -
That often as a Cloud it met -
Blew out itself - for fear -

The Wind pursued the little Bush -
And drove away the Leaves
November left - then clambered up
And fretted in the Eaves-

No Squirrel went abroad -
A Dog's belated feet
Like intermittent Plush, he heard
Adown the empty Street-

To feel if Blinds be fast -
And closer to the fire -
Her little Rocking Chair to draw -
And shiver for the Poor -

The Housewife's gentle Task -
How pleasanter - said she
Unto the Sofa opposite -
The Sleet - than May, no Thee -

C. 1862 1891


590


Did you ever stand in a Cavern's Mouth -
Widths out of the Sun -
And look - and shudder, and block your breath -
And deem to be alone

In such a place, what horror,
How Goblin it would be-
And fly, as 'twere pursuing you?
Then Loneliness - looks so-

Did you ever look in a Cannon's face -
Between whose Yellow eye -
And yours - the Judgment intervened -
The Question of "To die" -

Extemporizing in your ear
As cool as Satyr's Drums-
If you remember, and were saved -
It's liker so - it seems -

C. 1862 1935


591


To interrupt His Yellow Plan
The Sun does not allow
Caprices of the Atmosphere -
And even when the Snow

Heaves Balls of Specks, like Vicious Boy
Directly in His Eye-
Does not so much as turn His Head
Busy with Majesty -

'Tis His to stimulate the Earth -
And magnetize the Sea -
And bind Astronomy, in place,
Yet Any passing by

Would deem Ourselves - the busier
As the Minutest Bee
That rides - emits a Thunder -
A Bomb - to justify -

C. 1862 1929


592


What care the Dead, for Chanticleer -
What care the Dead for Day?
'Tis late your Sunrise vex their face -
And Purple Ribaldry - of Morning

Pour as blank on them
As on the Tier of Wall
The Mason builded, yesterday,
And equally as cool-

What care the Dead for Summer?
The Solstice had no Sun
Could waste the Snow before their Gate -
And knew One Bird a Tune-

Could thrill their Mortised Ear
Of all the Birds that be-
This One - beloved of Mankind
Henceforward cherished be-

What care the Dead for Winter?
Themselves as easy freeze -
June Noon - as January Night -
As soon the South - her Breeze

Of Sycamore - Or Cinnamon -
Deposit in a Stone
And put a Stone to keep it Warm -
Give Spices - unto Men

C. 1862 1932


593


I think I was enchanted
When first a sombre Girl -
I read that Foreign Lady -
The ark - felt beautiful -

And whether it was noon at night -
Or only Heaven - at Noon-
For very Lunacy of Light
I had not power to tell -

The Bees - became as Butterflies -
The ButterflIes - as Swans -
Approached - and spurned the narrow Grass -
And just the meanest Tunes

That Nature murmured to herself
To keep herself In Cheer -
I took for Giants - practising
Titanic Opera -

The Days - to Mighty Metres stept -
The Homeliest - adorned
As if unto a Jubilee
'T were suddenly confirmed -

I could not have defined the change -
Conversion of the Mind
Like Sanctifying in the Soul -
Is witnessed - not explained -

'Twas a Divine Insanity -
The Danger to be Sane
Should I again experience -
Tis Antidote to turn -

To Tomes of solid Witchcraft -
Magicians be asleep -
But Magic - hath an Element
Like Deity - to keep -

C. 1862 1935


594


The Battle fought between the Soul
And No Man - is the One
Of all the Battles prevalent-
By far the Greater One-

No News of it is had abroad -
Its Bodiless Campaign
Establishes, and terminates -
Invisible - Unknown -

Nor History - record it -
As LegIons of a Night
The Sunrise scatters - These endure -
Enact - and terminate -

C. 1862 1929


595


Like Mighty Foot Lights - burned the Red
At Bases of the Trees -
The far Theatricals of Day
Exhibiting - to These -

'Twas Universe - that did applaud -
While Chiefest - of the Crowd -
Enabled by his Royal Dress -
Myself distinguished God -

C. 1862 1891


596


When I was small, a Woman died -
Today - her Only Boy
Went up from the Potomac -
His face all Victory

To look at her - How slowly
The Seasons must have turned
Till Bullets clipt an Angle
And He passed quickly round-

If pride shall be in Paradise -
Ourself cannot decide -
Of their imperial Conduct -
No person testified -

But, proud in ApparitIon -
That Woman and her Boy
Pass back and forth, before my Brain
As even in the sky -

I'm confident that Bravoes -
Perpetual break abroad
For Braveries, remote as this
In Scarlet Maryland -

C. 1890


597


It always felt to me - a wrong
To that Old Moses - done -
To let him see - the Canaan -
Without the entering-

And tho' in soberer moments -
No Moses there can be
I'm satisfied - the Romance
In point of injury-

Surpasses sharper stated -
Of Stephen - or of Paul-
For these - were only put to death -
While God's adroiter Wlll

On Moses - seemed to fasten
With tantalizing Play
As Boy - should deal with lesser Boy -
To prove ability.

The fault - was doubtless israel's -
Myself - had banned the Tribes -
And ushered Grand Old Moses
In Pentateuchal Robes

Upon the Broad Possession
'Twas little - But titled Him - to see -
Old Man on Nebo! Late as this-
My justice bleeds - for Thee!

1862 1929


598


Three times - we parted - Breath - and I -
Three times - He would not go -
But strove to stir the lifeless Fan
The Waters - strove to stay.

Three Times - the Billows tossed me up -
Then caught me - like a Ball -
Then made Blue faces in my face -
And pushed away a sail

That crawled Leagues off - I liked to see -
For thinking - while I die -
How pleasant to behold a Thing
Where Human faces - be -

The Waves grew sleepy - Breath - did not -
The Winds - like Children - lulled -
Then Sunrise kissed my Chrysalis -
And I stood up - and lived -

C. 1862 1929


599


There is a pain - so utter -
It swallows substance up -
Then covers the Abyss with Trance -
So Memory can step
Around - across - upon it -
As one within a Swoon -
Goes safely - where an open eye -
Would drop Him - Bone by Bone.

C. 1862 1929


600


It troubled me as once I was -
For I was once a Child -
Concluding how an Atom - fell -
And yet the Heavens - held -

The Heavens weighed the most- by far -
Yet Blue - and solid - stood -
without a Bolt - that I could prove -
Would Giants - understand?

Life set me larger - problems -
Some I shall keep - to solve
Till Algebra is easier -
Or simpler proved - above -

Then - too - be comprehended -
What sorer - puzzled me -
Why Heaven did not break away -
And tumble - Blue - on me -


C. 1862 1945


601


A still - Volcano - Life -
That flickered in the night -
When it was dark enough to do
Without erasing sight -

A quiet - Earthquake Style -
Too subtle to suspect
By natures this side Naples -
The North cannot detect

The Solemn - Torrid - Symbol -
The lips that never lie -
Whose hissing Corals part - and shut -
And Cities - ooze away -

C. 1862 1929


602


Of Brussels - it was not -
Of Kidderminster' Nay -
The Winds did buy it of the Woods -
They - sold it unto me

It was a gentle price -
The poorest - could afford -
It was within the frugal purse
Of Beggar - or of Bird -

Of small and spicy Yards -
In hue - a mellow Dun -
Of Sunshine - and of Sere - Composed -
But, principally - of Sun -

The Wind - unrolled it fast-
And spread it on the Ground -
Upholsterer of the Pines - is He -
Upholsterer - of the Pond -

C. 1862 1945


603


He found my Being - set it up -
Adjusted it to place-
Then carved his name - upon It -
And bade it to the East

Be faithful - in his absence -
And he would come again with
Equipage of Amber -
That time - to take it Home-

C. 1862 1945


604


Unto my Books - so good to turn -
Far ends of tired Days -
It half endears the Abstinence -
And Pain - is missed - in Praise -

As Flavors - cheer Retarded Guests
With Banquettings to be -
So Spices - stimulate the time
Till my small Library -

It may be Wilderness - without -
Far feet of failing Men -
But Holiday - excludes the night -
And it is Bells - within -

I thank these Kinsmen of the Shelf -
Their Countenances Kid
Enamor - in Prospective -
And satisfy - obtained -

C. I862 1891


605


The Spider holds a Silver Ball
In unperceived Hands -
And dancing softly to Himself
His Yarn of Pearl - unwinds -

He plies from Nought to Nought -
In unsubstantial Trade -
Supplants our Tapestries with His -
In half the period -

An Hour to rear supreme
His Continents of Light -
Then dangle from the Housewife's Broom -
His Boundaries - forgot -

C. 1862 1945


606


The Trees like Tassels - hit - and swung -
There seemed to rise a Tune
From Miniature Creatures
Accompanying the Sun -

Far Psalteries of Summer -
Enamoring the Ear
They never yet did satisfy -
Remotest - when most fair

The Sun shone whole at intervals -
Then Half - then utter hid -
As if Himself were optional
And had Estates of Cloud

Sufficient to enfold Him
Eternally from view-
Except it were a whim of His
To let the Orchards grow-

A Bird sat careless on the fence -
One gossipped in the Lane
On silver matters charmed a Snake
Just Winding round a Stone -

Bright Flowers slit a Calyx
And soared upon a Stem
Like Hindered Flags - Sweet hoisted -
With Spices - in the Hem -

'Twas more - I cannot mention -
How mean - to those that see -
Vandyke's Delineation
Of Nature's - Summer Day!

C. 1862 1935


607


Of nearness to her sundered Things
The Soul has special times -
When Dimness - looks the Oddity -
Distinctness - easy - seems -

The Shapes we buried, dwell about,
Familiar, in the Rooms -
Untarnished by the Sepulchre.
The Mouldering Playmate comes -

In just the Jacket that he wore -
Long buttoned in the Mold
Since we - old mornings, Children - played -
Divided - by a world -

The Grave yields back her Robberies -
The Years, our pilfered Things -
Bright Knots of Apparitions
Salute us, with their wings -

As we - it were - that perished -
Themself - had just remained till we rejoin them -
And 'twas they, and not ourself
That mourned.

C. 1862 1929


608


Afraid! Of whom am I afraid?
Not Death - for who is He?
The Porter of my Father's Lodge
As much abasheth me!

Of Life? 'Twere odd I fear [a] thing
That comprehendeth me
In one or two existences -
As Deity decree -

Of Resurrection? is the East
AfraId to trust the Morn
With her fastidious forehead?
As soon impeach my Crown!

C. 1862 1890


609


I Years had been from Home
And now before the Door
I dared not enter, lest a Face
I never saw before

Stare stolid into mine
And ask my Business there -
"My Business but a Life I left
Was such remaining there?"

I leaned upon the Awe -
I lingered with Before -
The Second like an Ocean rolled
And broke against my ear -

I laughed a crumbling Laugh
That I could fear a Door
Who Consternation compassed
And never Winced before.

I fitted to the Latch
My Hand, with trembling care
Lest back the awful Door should spring
And leave me in the Floor -

Then moved my Fingers off
As cautiously as Glass
And held my ears, and like a Thief
Fled gasping from the House -

C. 1872 1891


610


You'll find - it when you try to die -
The Easier to let go -
For recollecting such as went -
You could not spare - you know.

And though their places somewhat filled -
As did their Marble names
With Moss - they never grew so full -
You chose the newer names -

And when this World - sets further back -
As Dying - say it does -
The former love - distincter grows -
And supersedes the fresh -

And Thought of them - so fair invites -
It looks too tawdry Grace
To stay behind - with Just the Toys
We bought - to ease their place -

C. 1862 1929


611


I see thee better - in the Dark -
I do not need a Light -
The Love of Thee - a Prism be -
Excelling Violet -

I see thee better for the Years
That hunch themselves between -
The Miner's Lamp - sufficient be -
To nullify the Mine -

And in the Grave - I see Thee best -
Its little Panels be
Aglow - All ruddy - with the Light
I held so high, for Thee -

What need of Day -
To Those whose Dark - hath so - surpassing Sun -
It deem it be - Continually -
At the Meridian

C. 1862 1914


612


It would have starved a Gnat -
To live so small as l -
And yet I was a living Child -
With Food's necessity

Upon me - like a Claw -
I could no more remove
Than I could coax a Leech away -
Or make a Dragon - move-

Nor like the Gnat - had I -
The privilege to fly
And seek a Dinner for myself -
How mightier He - than I -

Nor like Himself - the Art
Upon the Window Pane
To gad my little Being out -
And not begin - again -

C. 1862 1945


613

They shut me up in Prose -
As when a little Girl
They put me in the Closet -
Because they liked me "still" -

Still! Could themself have peeped -
And seen my Brain - go round -
They might as wise have lodged a Bird
For Treason - in the Pound -

Himself has but to will
And easy as a Star
Abolish his Captivity -
And laugh - No more have I -

C. 1862 1945


614


In falling Timbers buried -
There breathed a Man -
Outside - the spades - were plying -
The Lungs - within -

Could He - know - they sought Him -
Could They - know - He breathed -
Horrid Sand Partition -
Neither - could be heard -

Never slacked the Diggers -
But when Spades had done -
Oh, Reward of Anguish,
It was dying - Then -

Many Things - are fruitless -
Tis a Baffling Earth -
But there is no Gratitude
Like the Grace - of Death -

C. 1862 1945


615


Our journey had advanced -
Our feet were almost come
To that odd Fork in Being's Road -
Eternity - by Term -

Our pace took sudden awe -
Our feet - reluctant - led -
Before - were Cities - but Between -
The Forest of the Dead -

Retreat - was out of Hope -
Behind - a Sealed Route -
Eternity's White Flag - Before -
And God - at every Gate -

C. 1862 1891


616


I rose - because He sank-
I thought it would be opposite -
But when his power dropped -

My Soul grew straight.
I cheered my fainting Prince -
I sang firm - even - Chants -
I helped his Film - with Hymn -

And when the Dews drew off
That held his Forehead stiff -
I met him -
Balm to Balm -

I told him Best - must pass
Through this low Arch of Flesh -
No Casque so brave
It spurn the Grave -

I told him Worlds I knew
Where Emperors grew -
Who recollected us
If we were true-

And so with Thews of Hymn -
And Sinew from within -
And ways I knew not that I knew - till then -
I lifted Him -

C. 1862 1929


617


Don't put up my Thread and Needle -
I'll begin to Sew
When the Birds begin to whistle -
Better Stitches - so -

These were bent - my sight got crooked -
When my mind - is plain
I'll do seams - a Queen's endeavor
Would not blush to own -

Hems - too fine for Lady's tracing
To the sightless Knot -
Tucks - of dainty interspersion -
Like a dotted Dot -

Leave my Needle in the furrow -
Where I put it down -
I can make the zigzag stitches
Straight - when I am strong -

Till then - dreaming I am sewing
Fetch the seam I missed -
Closer - so I - at my sleeping -
Still surmise I stitch

C. 1862 1929


618


At leisure is the Soul
That gets a Staggering Blow -
The Width of Life - before it spreads
Without a thing to do -

It begs you give it Work -
But just the placing Pins -
Or humblest Patchwork - Children do -
To Help its Vacant Hands -

C. 1862 1929


619


Glee - The great storm is over -
Four - have recovered the Land -
Forty - gone down together -
Into the boiling Sand -

Ring - for the Scant Salvation -
Toll - for the bonnie Souls -
Neighbor - and friend - and Bridegroom -
Spinning upon the Shoals -

How they will tell the Story -
When Winter shake the Door -
Till the Children urge -
But the Forty -
Did they - come back no more?

Then a softness - suffuse the Story -
And a silence - the Teller's eye -
And the Children - no further question -
And only the Sea - reply -

C. 1862 1890


620


It makes no difference abroad -
The Seasons - fit - the same -
The Mornings blossom into Noons -
And split their Pods of Flame-

Wild Bowers - kindle in the Woods -
The Brooks slam - all the Day -
No Black bird bates his Banjo -
For passing Calvary -

Auto da Fe - and Judgment -
Are nothing to the Bee -
His separation from His Rose -
To Him - sums Misery -

C. 1862 1890

621


I asked no other thing -
No other - was denied -
I offered Being - for it -
The Mighty Merchant sneered-

Brazil? He twirled a Button -
Without a glance my way -
"But - Madam - is there nothing else -
That We can show - Today?"

C. 1862 1890


622


To know just how He suffered - would be dear -
To know if any Human eyes were near
To whom He could entrust His wavering gaze -
Until it settled broad - on Paradise -

To know if He was patient - part content -
Was Dying as He thought - or different -
Was it a pleasant Day to die -
And did the Sunshine face His way -

What was His furthest mind - Of Home - or God -
Or what the Distant say -
At news that He ceased Human Nature
Such a Day -

And Wishes - Had He Any -
Just His Sigh - Accented -
Had been legible - to Me -
And was He Confident until
Ill fluttered out - in Everlasting Well -

And if He spoke - What name was Best -
What last
What One broke off with
At the Drowsiest-

Was He afraid - or tranquil -
Might He know
How Conscious Consciousness - could grow -
Till Love that was - and Love too best to be -
Meet - and the Junction be Eternity

C. 1862 1890


623


It was too late for Man -
But early, yet, for God -
Creation - impotent to help -
But Prayer - remained - Our Side -

How excellent the Heaven -
When Earth - cannot be had -
How hospitable - then - the face
Of our Old Neighbor - God -

C. 1862 1890


624


Forever - is composed of Nows -
'Tis not a different time -
Except for Infiniteness-
And Latitude of Home-

From this - experienced Here-
Remove the Dates - to These-
Let Months dissolve in further Months -
And Years - exhale in Years -

Without Debate - or Pause -
Or Celebrated Davs -
No different Our Years would be
From Anno Domini's -

C. 1862 1929


625


'Twas a long Parting - but the time
For Interview - had Come -
Before the Judgment Seat of God -
The last - and second time

These Fleshless Lovers met -
A Heaven in a Gaze -
A Heaven of Heavens - the Privilege
Of one another's Eyes -

No Lifetime - on Them -
Appareled as the new
Unborn - except They had beheld-
Born infiniter - now -

Was Bridal - e'er like This?
A Paradise - the Host -
And Cherubim - and Seraphim -
The unobtrusive Guest -

C. 1862 1890


626


Only God - detect the Sorrow -
Only God -
The Jehovahs - are no Babblers -
Unto God -
God the Son - confide it -
Still secure -
God the Spirit's Honor -
Just as Sure -

C. 1862 1935


627


The Tint I cannot take - is best -
The Color too remote
That I could show it in Bazaar -
A Guinea at a sight -

The fine - impalpable Array -
That swaggers on the eye
Like Cleopatra's Company -
Repeated - in the sky -

The Moments of Dominion
That happen on the Soul
And leave it with a Discontent
Too exquisite - to tell -

The eager look - on Landscapes -
As if they just repressed
Some Secret - that was pushing
Like Chariots - in the Vest -

The Pleading of the Summer -
That other Prank - of Snow -
That Cushions Mystery with Tulle,
For fear the Squirrels - know.

Their Graspless manners - mock us -
Until the Cheated Eye
Shuts arrogantly - in the Grave -
Another way - to see -

C. 1862 1935


628


They called me to the Window, for
"'Twas Sunset" - Some one said -
I only saw a Sapphire Farm -
And just a Single Herd -

Of Opal Cattle - feeding far
Upon so vain a Hill-
As even while I looked - dissolved -
Nor Cattle were - nor Soil -

But in their stead - a Sea - displayed -
And Ships - of such a size
As Crew of Mountains - could afford -
And Decks - to seat the skies -

This - too - the Showman rubbed away -
And when I looked again -
Nor Farm - nor Opal Herd - was there -
Nor Mediterranean -

C. 1862 1935


629


I watched the Moon around the House
Until upon a Pane-
She stopped - a Traveller's privilege - for Rest -
And there upon

I gazed - as at a stranger -
The Lady in the Town
Doth think no incivility
To lift her Glass - upon -

But never Stranger justified
The Curiosity
Like Mine - for not a Foot - nor Hand -
Nor Formula - had she -

But like a Head - a Guillotine
Slid carelessly away -
Did independent, Amber -
Sustain her in the sky -

Or like a Stemless Flower -
Upheld in rolling Air
By finer Gravitatlons -
Than bind Philosopher -

No Hunger - had she - nor an Inn -
Her Toilette - to suffice -
Nor Avocation - nor Concern
For little Mysteries

As harass us - like Life - and Death -
And Afterwards - or Nay -
But seemed engrossed to Absolute -
With shining - and the Sky -

The privilege to scrutinize
Was scarce upon my Eyes
When, with a Silver practise -
She vaulted out of Gaze-

And next - I met her on a Cloud -
Myself too far below
To follow her superior Road -
Or its advantage - Blue -

C. 1862 1945


630


The Lightning playeth - all the while -
But when He singeth - then -
Ourselves are conscious He exist-
And we approach Him - stern -

With Insulators-and a Glove -
Whose short - sepulchral Bass
Alarms us - tho' His Yellow feet
May pass - and counterpass -

Upon the Ropes - above our Head -
Continual - with the News-
Nor We so much as check our speech -
Nor stop to cross Ourselves -　　　　　　　NOTES

C. 1862 1945


631


Ourselves were wed one summer - dear -
Your Vision - was in June-
And when Your little lifetime failed,
I weaned - too - of mine -

And overtaken in the Dark -
Where You had put me down -
By Some one carrying a Light -
I - too - received the Sign.

'Tis true-Our Futures different lay-
Your Cottage - faced the sun-
While Oceans-and the North must be-
On every side of mine

'Tis true, Your Garden led the Bloom,
For mme - in Frosts - was sown -
And yet, one Summer, we were Queens -
But You - were crowned in June -

C. 1862 1945


632


The Brain - is wider than the Sky-
For - put them side by side -
The one the other will contain
With ease - and You - beside -

The Brain is deeper than the sea -
For - hold them - Blue to Blue -
The one the other will absorb -
As Sponges- Buckets - do -

The Brain is just the weight of God -
For - Heft them - Pound for Pound -
And they will differ - if they do -
As Syllable from Sound -

C. 1862 1896


633


When Bells stop ringing - Church - begins -
The Positive - of Bells -
When Cogs - stop - that's Circumference -
The Ultimate - of Wheels.

C. 1862 1945


634


You'll know Her - by Her Foot -
The smallest Gamboge Hand
With Fingers - where the Toes should be -
Would more affront the Sand -

Than this Quaint Creature's Boot -
Adjusted by a Stem -
Without a Button - I could vouch -
Unto a Velvet Limb -

You'll know Her - by Her Vest -
Tight fitting - Orange - Brown -
Inside a Jacket duller -
She wore when she was born -

Her Cap is small - and snug -
Constructed for the Winds -
She'd pass for Barehead - short way off -
But as She Closer stands -

So finer 'tis than Wool -
You cannot feel the Seam-
Nor is it Clasped unto of Band -
Nor held upon - of Brim -

You'll know Her - by Her Voice -
At first - a doubtful Tone -
A sweet endeavor - but as March
To April - hurries on -

She squanders on your Ear
Such Arguments of Pearl -
You beg the Robin in your Brain
To keep the other - still -

C. 1862- 1945


635


I think the longest Hour of all
Is when the Cars have come-
And we are waiting for the Coach -
It seems as though the Time

Indignant - that the Joy was come-
Did block the Gilded Hands -
And would not let the Seconds by -
But slowest instant - ends -

The Pendulum begins to count -
Like little Scholars - loud -
The steps grow thicker - in the Hall -
The Heart begins to crowd -

Then I - my timid service done -
Tho' service 'twas, of Love -
Take up my little Violin -
And further North - remove.

C. 1862 1945


636


The Way I read a Letter's - this -
'Tis first - I lock the Door -
And push it with my fingers - next -
For transport it be sure -

And then I go the furthest off
To counteract a knock -
Then draw my little Letter forth
And slowly pick the lock -

Then - glancing narrow, at the wall -
And narrow at the floor
For firm ConvictIon of a Mouse
Not exorcised before -

Peruse how infinite I am
To no one that You - know -
And sigh for lack of Heaven - but not
The Heaven God bestow -

C. 1862 1891


637


The Chlld's faith is new -
Whole - like His Princlple -
Wide - like the Sunrise
On fresh Eyes -

Never had a Doubt -
Laughs - at a Scruple -
Believes all sham
But Paradise -

Credits the World -
Deems His Dominion
Broadest of Sovereignties -
And Caesar - mean -

In the Comparison -
Baseless Emperor -
Ruler of Nought,
Yet swaying all -

Grown bye and bye
To hold mistaken
His pretty estimates
Of Prickly Things

He gains the skill
Sorrowful - as certain -
Men - to anticipate
Instead of Kings -

C. 1862 1929


638


To my small Hearth His fire came -
And all my House aglow
Did fan and rock, with sudden light -
'Twas Sunrise - 'twas the Sky -

Impanelled from no Summer brief -
With limit of Decay -
'Twas Noon - without the News of Night -
Nay, Nature, it was Day -

C. 1862 1932


639


My PortIon is Defeat - today -
A paler luck than Vlctory -
Less Paeans - fewer Bells -
The Drums don't follow Me - with tunes -
Defeat - a somewhat slower - means -
More Arduous than Balls -

'Tis populous with Bone and stain -
And Men too straight to stoop again,
And Piles of solid Moan -
And Chips of Blank - in Boyish Eyes -
And scraps of Prayer -
And Death's surprise,
Stamped visible - in Stone -

There's somewhat prouder, over there -
The Trumpets tell it to the Air -
How different Victory
To Him who has it - and the One
Who to have had it, would have been
Contenteder - to die -

C. 1862 1929


640


I cannot live with You -
It would be Life -
And Life is over there -
Behind the Shelf

The Sexton keeps the Key to -
Putting up
Our Life - His Porcelain -
Like a Cup -

Discarded of the Housewife -
Quaint - or Broke -
A newer Sevres pleases -
Old Ones crack -

I could not die - with You -
For One must wait
To shut the Other's Gaze down -
You - could not -

And I - Could I stand by
And see You - freeze -
Without my Right of Frost -
Death's privilege?

Nor could I rise - with You -
Because Your Face
Would put out Jesus' -
That New Grace

Glow plain - and foreign
On my homesick Eye -
Except that You than He
Shone closer by -

They'd judge Us - How -
For You - served Heaven - You know,
Or sought to -
I could not -

Because you saturated Sight -
And I had no more Eyes
For sordid excellence
As Paradise

And were You lost, I would be -
Though My Name
Rang loudest
On the Heavenly fame -

And were You - saved -
And I - condemned to be
Where You were not -
That self - were Hell to Me -

So We must meet apart -
You there - I - here -
With just the Door ajar
That Oceans are - and Prayer -
And that White Sustenance -
Despair -

C. 1862 1890


641


Size circumscribes - it has no room
For petty furniture -
The Giant tolerates no Gnat
For Ease of Gianture -

Repudiates it, all the more -
Because intrinsic size
Ignores the possibility
Of Calumnies - or Flies.

C. 1862 1935


642


Me from Myself-to banish -
Had I Art -
Impregnable my Fortress
Unto All Heart -

But Since Myself - assault Me -
How have I peace
Except by subjugating
Consciousness?

And since We're mutual Monarch
How this be
Except by Abdication -
Me - of Me?

1929


643


I could suffice for Him, I knew -
He - could suffice for Me -
Yet Hesitating Fractions - Both
Surveyed Infinity-

"Would I be Whole" He sudden broached -
My syllable rebelled-
'Twas face to face with Nature - forced -
Twas face to face with God -

Withdrew the Sun - to Other Wests -
Withdrew the furthest Star
Before Decision - stooped to speech -
And then - be audibler

The Answer of the Sea unto
The Motion of the Moon -
Herself adjust Her Tides - unto -
Could I - do else - with Mine?

1935


644


You left me - Sire - two Legacies -
A Legacy of Love
A Heavenly Father would suffice
Had He the offer of-

You left me Boundaries of Pain -
Capacious as the Sea-
Between Eternity and Time -
Your Consciousness - and Me-

C. 1862 1890


645


Bereavement in their death to feel
Whom We have never seen -
A Vital Kinsmanship import
Our Soul and theirs - between -

For Stranger - Strangers do not mourn -
There be Immortal friends
Whom Death see first - 'tis news of this
That paralyze Ourselves-

Who, vital only to Our Thought -
Such Presence bear away
In dying - 'tis as if Our Souls
Absconded - suddenly-

C. 1862 1935


646


I think to Live - may be a Bliss
To those who dare to try -
Beyond my limit to conceive -
My lip - to testify -

I think the Heart I former wore
Could widen - till to me
The Other, like the little Bank
Appear - unto the Sea -

I think the Days - could every one
In Ordination stand -
And Majesty - be easier -
Than an inferior kind -

No numb alarm - lest Difference come -
No Goblin - on the Bloom -
No start in Apprehension's Ear,
No Bankruptcy - no Doom -

But Certainties of Sun -
Midsummer - in the Mind -
A steadfast South - upon the Soul -
Her Polar time - behind -

The Vision - pondered long -
So plausible becomes
That I esteem the fiction - real -
The Real - fictitious seems -

How bountiful the Dream -
What Plenty - It would be -
Had all my Life but been Mistake
Just rectified - in Thee

1935


647


A little Road - not made of Man -
Enabled of the Eye -
Accessible to Thill of Bee -
Or Cart of Butterfly -

If Town it have - beyond itself -
Tis that - I cannot say -
I only know - no Curricle that rumble there
Bear Me -

1890


648


Promise This - When You be Dying -
Some shall summon Me -
Mine belong Your latest Sighing -
Mine - to Belt Your Eye -

Not with Coins - though they be Minted
From an Emperor's Hand -
Be my lips - the only Buckle
Your low Eyes - demand -

Mine to stay - when all have wandered -
To devise once more
If the Life be too surrendered -
Life of Mine - restore -

Poured like this - My Whole Libation -
Just that You should see
Bliss of Death - Life's Bliss extol thro'
Imitating You -

Mine - to guard Your Narrow Precinct -
To seduce the Sun
Longest on Your South, to linger,
Largest Dews of Morn

To demand, in Your low favor
Lest the Jealous Grass
Greener lean - Or fonder cluster
Round some other face -

Mine to supplicate Madonna -
If Madonna be
Could behold so far a Creature -
Christ - Omitted - Me -

Just to follow Your dear feature -
Ne'er so far behind -
For My Heaven -
Had I not been
Most enough - denied?

C. 1862 1935


649


Her Sweet turn to leave the Homestead
Came the Darker Way -
Carriages - Be sure - and Guests - too -
But for Holiday

'Tis more pItiful Endeavor
Than did Loaded Sea
O'er the Curls attempt to caper
It had cast away-

Never Bride had such Assembling -
Never kinsmen kneeled
To salute so fair a Forehead -
Garland be indeed -

Fitter Feet - of Her before us -
Than whatever Brow
Art of Snow - or Trick of Lily
Possibly bestow

Of Her Father - Whoso ask Her -
He shall seek as high
As the Palm - that serve the Desert -
To obtain the Sky -

Distance - be Her only MotIon -
If 'tis Nay-or Yes -
Acquiescence - or Demurral -
Whosoever guess -

He - must pass the Crystal Angle
That obscure Her face -
He - must have achieved in person
Equal Paradise -

C. 1862 1935


650


Pain - has an Element of Blank -
It cannot recollect
When it begun - or if there were
A time when it was not-

It has no Future - but itself -
Its Infinite contain
Its Past - enlightened to perceive
New Periods - of Pain.

C. 1862 1890


651


So much Summer
Me for showing
Illegitimate -
Would a Smile's minute bestowing
Too exorbitant

To the Lady
With the Guinea
Look - If She should know
Crumb of Mine
A Robin's Larder
Would suffice to stow -

C. 1862 1945


652


A Prison gets to be a friend -
Between its Ponderous face
And Ours - a Kinsmanship express -
And in its narrow Eyes -

We come to look with gratitude
For the appointed Beam
It deal us - stated as our food-
And hungered for - the same -

We learn to know the Planks -
That answer to Our feet -
So miserable a sound - at first -
Nor ever now - so sweet -

As plashing in the Pools -
When Memory was a Boy -
But a Demurer Circuit -
A Geometric Joy -

The Posture of the Key
That interrupt the Day
To Our Endeavor - Not so real
The Cheek of Liberty -

As this Phantasm Steel -
Whose features - Day and Night -
Are present to us - as Our Own -
And as escapeless - quite-

The narrow Round - the Stint -
The slow exchange of Hope -
For something passiver - Content
Too steep for looking up-

The Liberty we knew
Avoided - like a Dream -
Too wIde for any Night but Heaven -
If That - indeed - redeem -

1929


653


Of Being is a Bird
The likest to the Down
An Easy Breeze do put afloat
The General Heavens - upon -

It soars - and shifts - and whirls -
And measures with the Clouds
In easy - even - dazzling pace -
No different the Birds -

Except a Wake of Music
Accompany their feet -
As did the Down emit a Tune -
For Ecstasy - of it

C. 1862


654


A long - long Sleep - A famous - Sleep -
That makes no show for Morn -
By Stretch of Limb - or stir of Lid -
An independent One -

Was ever Idleness like This?
Upon a Bank of Stone
To bask the Centuries away -
Nor once look up - for Noon?

C. 1862 1896


655


Without this - there is nought -
All other Riches be
As is the Twitter of a Bird-
Heard opposite the Sea -

I could not care - to gain
A lesser than the Whole -
For did not this include themself -
As Seams-include the Ball?

I wished a way might be
My Heart to subdivide -
'T would magnify - the Gratitude -
And not reduce - the Gold -

C. 1862 1935


656


The name-of it-is "Autumn" -
The hue - of it - is Blood -
An Artery - upon the Hill -
A Vein - along the Road -

Great Globules - in the Alleys -
And Oh, the Shower of Stain -
When Winds - upset the Basin -
And spill the Scarlet Rain -

It sprinkles Bonnets - far below -
It gathers ruddy Pools -
Then - eddies like a Rose - away -
Upon Vermilion Wheels -

C. 1862


657


I dwell in Possibility-
A fairer House than Prose -
More numerous of Windows -
Superior - for Doors -

Of Chambers as the Cedars -
Impregnable of Eye -
And for an Everlasting Roof
The Gambrels of the Sky -

Of Visitors - the fairest -
For Occupation - This -
The spreading wide my narrow Hands
To gather Paradise-

C. 1862


658


Whole Gulfs - of Red, and Fleets - of Red -
And Crews - of solid Blood -
Did place about the West-Tonight -
As 'twere specific Ground -

And They - appointed Creatures -
In Authorized Arrays -
Due - promptly - as a Drama -
That bows - and disappears -

C. 1862


659


That first Day, when you praised Me, Sweet,
And said that I was strong -
And could be mighty, if I liked -
That Day - the Days among -

Glows Central - like a Jewel
Between Diverging Golds -
The Minor One - that gleamed behind -
And Vaster-of the World's.

C. 1862


660


'Tis good - the looking back on Grief -
To re-endure a Day -
We thought the Mighty Funeral -
Of All Conceived Joy -

To recollect how Busy Grass
Did meddle - one by one -
Till all the Grief with Summer - waved
And none could see the stone.

And though the Woe you have Today
Be larger - As the Sea
Exceeds its Unremembered Drop -
They're water - equally -

C. 1862 1935


661


Could I but ride indefinite
As doth the Meadow Bee
And visit only where I liked
And No one visit me

And flirt all Day with Buttercups
And marry whom I may
And dwell a little everywhere
Or better, run away

With no Police to - follow
Or chase Him if He do
Till He should jump Peninsulas
To get away from me -

I said "But just to be a Bee"
Upon a Raft of Air
And row in Nowhere all Day long
And anchor "off the Bar"

What Liberty! So Captives deem
Who tight in Dungeons are.

C. 1862 1896


662


Embarrassment of one another
And God
Is Revelation's limit,
Aloud
Is nothing that is chief,
But still,
Divinity dwells under seal.

C. 1862 1945


663


Again ... his voice is at the door -
I feel the old Degree -
I hear him ask the servant
For such an one - as me -

I take a flower - as I go -
My face to justify -
He never saw me ... in this life -
I might surprise his eye!

I cross the Hall with mingled steps -
I ... silent ... pass the door -
I look on all this world contains -
Just his face ... nothing more!

We talk in careless ... and in toss -
A kind of plummet strain -
Each - sounding - shyly -
Just - how - deep -
The other's one - had been -

We walk - I leave my Dog - at home -
A tender - thoughtful Moon
Goes with us - just a little way -
And - then - we are alone -

Alone - if Angels are "alone" -
First time they try the sky!
Alone - if those "veiled faces" - be -
We cannot count - on High!

I'd give - to live that hour - again -
The purple - in my Vein -
But He must count the drops - himself -
My price for every strain!

C. 1862 1891


664


Of all the Souls that stand create -
I have elected - One -
When Sense from Spirit - files away -
And Subterfuge - is done -
When that which is - and that which was -
Apart - intrinsic - stand -
And this brief Drama in the flesh -
Is shifted - like a Sand -
When Figures show their royal Front -
And Mists - are carved away,
Behold the Atom - I preferred -
To all the lists of Clay!

C. 1862


665


Dropped into the Ether Acre -
Wearing the Sod Gown -
Bonnet of Everlasting Laces -
Brooch - frozen on -

Horses of Blonde - and Coach of Silver -
Baggage a strapped Pearl -
Journey of Down - and Whip of Diamond -
Riding to meet the Earl -

C. 1862 1914


666


Ah, Teneriffe!
Retreating Mountain!
Purples of Ages - pause for you -
Sunset- reviews her Sapphire Regiment -
Day - drops you her Red Adieu!

Still - Clad in your Mail of ices -
Thigh of Granite - and thew - of Steel -
Heedless - alike - of pomp - or parting

Ah, Teneriffe!
I'm kneeling - still -

C. 1862 1914


667


Bloom upon the Mountain - stated -
Blameless of a Name -
Efflorescence of a Sunset -
Reproduced - the same -

Seed, had I, my Purple Sowing
Should endow the Day -
Not a Tropic of a Twilight -
Show itself away -

Who for tilling - to the Mountain
Come, and disappear -
Whose be Her Renown, or fading,
Witness, is not here -

While I state - the Solemn Petals,
Far as North - and East,
Far as South and West - expanding -
Culminate - in Rest-

And the Mountain to the Evening
Fit His Countenance -
Indicating, by no Muscle -
The Experience -

C. 1863 1914


668


"Nature" is what we see -
The Hill- the Afternoon -
Squirrel - Eclipse - the Bumble bee -
Nay - Nature is Heaven -

Nature is what we hear -
The Bobolink - the Sea -
Thunder - the Cricket -
Nay - Nature is Harmony -

Nature is what we know -
Yet have no art to say -
So impotent Our Wisdom is
To her Simplicity.

C. 1863 1914


669


No Romance sold unto
Could so enthrall a Man
As the perusal of
His Individual One -
'Tis Fiction's - to dilute to Plausibility
Our Novel - When 'tis small enough
To Credit - 'Tisn't true!

C. 1863 1914


670


One need not be a Chamber - to be Haunted -
One need not be a House -
The Brain has Corridors - surpassing
Material Place -

Far safer, of a Midnight Meeting
External Ghost
Than its interior Confronting -
That Cooler Host.

Far safer, through an Abbey gallop,
The Stones a' chase -
Than Unarmed, one's a'self encounter -
In lonesome Place -

Ourself behind ourself, concealed -
Should startle most -
Assassin hid in our Apartment
Be Horror's least

The Body - borrows a Revolver -
He bolts the Door -
O'erlooking a superior spectre -
Or More -

C. 1863 1891


671


She dwelleth in the Ground -
Where Daffodils - abide -
Her Maker - Her Metropolis -
The Universe - Her Maid -

To fetch Her Grace - and Hue -
And Fairness - and Renown -
The Firmament's - To Pluck Her -
And fetch Her Thee - be mine -

C. 1863 1945


672


The Future - never spoke -
Nor will He - like the Dumb -
Reveal by Sign - a syllable
Of His Profound To Come -

But when the News be ripe -
Presents It - in the Act -
Forestalling Preparatlon -
Escape - or Substitute -

Indifferent to Him -
The Dower - as the Doom -
His Office - but to execute
Fate's - Telegram - to Him -

C. 1863 1914


673


The Love a Life can show Below
Is but a filament, I know,
Of that diviner thing
That faints upon the face of Noon -

And smites the Tinder in the Sun -
And hinders Gabriel's Wing -
'Tis this - in Music - hints and sways -
And far abroad on Summer days -

Distils uncertain pain -
'Tis this enamors in the East -
And tints the Transit in the West
With harrowing Iodine -

'Tis this - invites - appalls - endows -
Flits - glimmers - proves - dissolves -
Returns - suggests - convicts - enchants -
Then - Rings in Paradise -

C. 1863 1914


674


The Soul that hath a Guest
Doth seldom go abroad -
Diviner Crowd at Home -
Obliterate the need -

And Courtesy forbid
A Host's departure when
Upon Himself be visiting
The Emperor of Men-

C. 1863 1929


675


Essential Oils - are wrung -
The Attar from the Rose
Be not expressed by Suns - alone -
It is the gIft of Screws -

The General Rose - decay -
But this - in Lady's Drawer
Make Summer - When the Lady lie
In Ceaseless Rosemary -

C. 1891


676


Least Bee that brew -
A Honey's Weight
The Summer multiply -
Content Her smallest fraction help
The Amber Quantity -

1945


677


To be alive - is Power -
Existence - in itself -
Without a further function -
Omnipotence - Enough -

To be alive - and Will!
'Tis able as a God -
The Maker - of Ourselves - be what -
Such being Finitude!

C. 1863 1914


678


Wolfe demanded during dying
"Which obtain the Day?"
"General, the British" - "Easy"
Answered Wolfe "to die"

Montcalm, his opposing Spirit
Rendered with a smile
"Sweet" said he "my own Surrender
Liberty's beguile"

C. 1863 1945


679


Conscious am I in my Chamber,
Of a shapeless friend -
He doth not attest by Posture -
Nor Confirm - by Word -

Neither Place - need I present Him -
Fitter Courtesy
Hospitable intuition
Of His Company -

Presence - is His furthest license -
Neither He to Me
Nor Myself to Him - by Accent -
Forfeit Probity -

Weariness of Him, were quainter -
Than Monotony
Knew a Particle - of Space's
Vast Society -

Neither if He VisIt Other-
Do He dwell - or Nay - know I -
But Instinct esteem Him
Immortality -

C. 1863 I929


680


Each Life Converges to some Centre-
Expressed - or still -
Exists in every Human Nature
A Goal -

Embodied scarcely to itself - it may be -
Too fair
For Credibility's presumption
To mar -

Adored with caution - as a Brittle Heaven -
To reach
Were hopeless, as the Rainbow's Raiment
To touch-

Yet persevered toward - sure - for the Distance -
How high -
Unto the Saints' slow diligence -
The Sky -

Ungained - it may be - by a Life's low Venture -
But then -
Eternity enable the endeavoring
Again.

C. 1863 1891


681


Soil of Flint, if steady tilled -
Will refund the Hand -
Seed of Palm, by Libyan Sun
Fructified in Sand -

C. 1863 1896


682


'T would ease - a Butterfly -
Elate - a Bee -
Thou'rt neither -
Neither - thy capacity -

But, Blossom, were I,
I would rather be
Thy moment
Than a Bee's Eternity -

Content of fading
Is enough for me -
Fade I unto Divinity -

And Dying - Lifetime -
Ample as the Eye -
Her least attention raise on me -

1863 1945


683


The Soul unto itself
Is an imperial friend-
Or the most agonizing Spy -
An Enemy - could send -

Secure against its own -
No treason it can fear -
Itself - its Sovereign - of itself
The Soul should stand in Awe -

C. 1862 1891


684


Best Gains - must have the Losses' Test -
To constitute them - Gains -

C. 1863 1891


685


Not "Revelation" - tis - that waits,
But our unfurnished eyes -

C. 1863 1891


686


They say that "Time assuages" -
Time never did assuage -
An actual suffering strengthens
As Sinews do, with age -

Time is a Test of Trouble -
But not a Remedy -
If such it prove, it prove too
There was no Malady -

1863 1896


687


I'll send the feather from my Hat!
Who knows - but at the sight of that
My Sovereign will relent?
As trinket - worn by faded Child-
Confronting eyes long - comforted -
Blisters the Adamant!

C. 1861 1894


688


"Speech" - is a prank of Parliament -
"Tears" - a trick of the nerve -
But the Heart with the heaviest freight on -
Doesn't - always - move -

C. 1862 1894


689


The Zeroes - taught us - Phosphorus -
We learned to like the Fire
By playing Glaciers - when a Boy -
And Tinder - guessed - by power
Of OpposIte - to balance Odd -
If white - a Red - must be!
Paralysis - our Primer - dumb -
Unto Vitality!　　　　　　　　　　　　　NOTES

C. 1862 1894


690


Victory comes late -
And is held low to freezing lips -
Too rapt with frost
To take it -
How sweet it would have tasted -
Just a Drop -
Was God so economical?
His Table's spread too high for Us -
Unless We dine on tiptoe -
Crumbs - fit such little mouths -
Cherries - suit Robins -
The Eagle's Golden Breakfast strangles - Them -
God keep His Oath to Sparrows-
Who of little Love - know how to starve-

C. 1863 1891


691


Would you like summer? Taste of ours.
Spices? Buy here!
Ill! We have berries, for the parching!
Weary! Furloughs of down!
Perplexed! Estates of violet trouble ne'er looked on!
Captive! We bring reprieve of roses!
Fainting! Flasks of air!
Even for Death, a fairy medicine.
But, which is it, sir?

C. 1863 1891


692


The Sun kept setting - setting - still
No Hue of Afternoon -
Upon the Village I perceived -
From House to House 'twas Noon -

The Dusk kept dropping - dropping - still
No Dew upon the Grass -
But only on my Forehead stopped -
And wandered in my Face -

My Feet kept drowsing - drowsing - still
My fingers were awake -
Yet why so little sound - Myself
Unto my Seeming - make?

How well I knew the Light before -
I could see it now -
'Tis Dying - I am doing - but
I'm not afraid to know -

C. 1863 1894


693


Shells from the Coast mistaking -
I cherished them for All -
Happening in After Ages
To entertain a Pearl -

Wherefore so late - I murmured -
My need of Thee - be done -
Therefore - the Pearl responded -
My Period begin

C. 1863 1945


694


The Heaven vests for Each
In that small Deity
It craved the grace to worship
Some bashful Summer's Day -

Half shrinking from the Glory
It importuned to see
Till these faint Tabernacles drop
In full Eternity -

How imminent the Venture -
As one should sue a Star-
For His mean sake to leave the Row
And entertain Despair -

A Clemency so common -
We almost cease to fear -
Enabling the minutest -
And furthest - to adore -

C. 1863 1935


695


As if the Sea should part
And show a further Sea -
And that - a further - and the Three
But a presumption be -

Of Periods of Seas -
Unvisited of Shores -
Themselves the Verge of Seas to be -
Eternity - is Those -

C. 1863 1935


696


Their Height in Heaven comforts not -
Their Glory - nought to me -
'Twas best imperfect - as it was -
I'm finite - I can't see -

The House of Supposition -
The Glimmering Frontier that
Skirts the Acres of Perhaps -
To Me - shows insecure -

The Wealth I had - contented me -
If 'twas a meaner Size -
Then I had counted it until
It pleased my narrow Eyes -

Better than larger values -
That show however true -
This timid life of Evidence
Keeps pleading - "I don't know."

C. 1863 1891


697


I could bring You Jewels - had I a mind to -
But You have enough - of those -
I could bring You Odors from St. Domingo -
Colors - from Vera Cruz -

Berries of the Bahamas - have I -
But this little Blaze
Flickering to itself - in the Meadow -
Suits Me - more than those-

Never a Fellow matched this Topaz -
And his Emerald Swing -
Dower itself - for Bobadilo-
Better - Could I bring?

C. 1863 1945


698


Life - is what we make it -
Death - We do not know -
Christ's acquaintance with Him
Justify Him - though -

He - would trust no stranger -
Other-could betray -
Just His own endorsement -
That - sufficeth Me -

All the other Distance
He hath traversed first -
No New Mile remaineth -
Far as Paradise -

His sure foot preceding -
Tender Pioneer -
Base must be the Coward
Dare not venture - now -

C. 1863 1929


699


The Judge is like the Owl -
I've heard my Father tell -
And Owls do build in Oaks-
So here's an Amber Sill -

That slanted in my Path -
When going to the Barn-
And if it serve You for a House -
Itself is not in vain -

About the price - 'tis small -
I only ask a Tune
At Midnight - Let the Owl select
His favorite Refrain.

C. 1863 1945


700


You've seen Balloons set - Haven't You?
So stately they ascend -
It is as Swans - discarded You,
For Duties Diamond -

Their Liquid Feet go softly out
Upon a Sea of Blonde -
They spurn the Air, as 'twere too mean
For Creatures so renowned-

Their Ribbons just beyond the eye -
They struggle - some - for Breath -
And yet the Crowd applaud, below -
They would not encore - Death -

The Gilded Creature strains - and spins -
Trips frantic in a Tree -
Tears open her imperial Veins -
And tumbles in the Sea-

The Crowd - retire with an Oath -
The Dust in Streets - go down -
And Clerks in Counting Rooms
Observe - "'Twas only a Balloon" -

C. 1863 1896


701


A Thought went up my mind today -
That I have had before -
But did not finish - some way back -
I could not fix the Year -

Nor where it went - nor why it came
The second time to me -
Nor definitely, what it was -
Have I the Art to say -

But somewhere - in my Soul - I know -
I've met the Thing before-
It just reminded me - 'twas all -
And came my way no more-

C. 1863 1891


702


A first Mute Coming -
In the Stranger's House -
A first fair Going -
When the Bells rejoice -

A first Exchange - of
What hath mingled - been -
For Lot - exhibited to
Faith - alone -

C. 1863 1935


703


Out of sight? What of that?
See the Bird - reach it!
Curve by Curve - Sweep by Sweep -
Round the Steep Air -
Danger! What is that to Her?
Better 'tis to fall - there -
Than debate - here -

Blue is Blue - the World through -
Amber - Amber - Dew - Dew -
Seek - Friend - and see -
Heaven is shy of Earth - that's all -
Bashful Heaven - thy Lovers small -
Hide - too - from thee -

C. 1863 1929


704


No matter - now - Sweet -
But when I'm Earl -
Won't you wish you'd spoken
To that dull Girl?

Trivial a Word - just -
Trivial - a Smile-
But won't you wish you'd spared one
When I'm Earl?

I shan't need it - then -
Crests - will do -
Eagles on my Buckles -
On my Belt - too -

Ermine - my familiar Gown -
Say - Sweet - then
Won't you wish you'd smiled - just -
Me upon?

C. 1863 1945


705


Suspense -is Hostiler than Death -
Death - tho'soever Broad,
Is just Death, and cannot increase -
Suspense - does not conclude -

But perishes - to live anew -
But just anew to die -
Annihilation - plated fresh
With Immortality -

C. 1863 1929


706


Life, and Death, and Giants-
Such as These - are still-
Minor - Apparatus - Hopper of the Mill -
Beetle at the Candle-
Or a Fife's Fame-
Maintain - by Accident that they proclaim -

C. 1863 1896


707


The Grace - Myself - might not obtain -
Confer upon My flower -
Refracted but a Countenance -
For I - inhabit Her -

C. 1863 1935


708


I sometimes drop it, for a Quick -
The Thought to be alive -
Anonymous Delight to know -
And Madder - to conceive -

Consoles a Woe so monstrous
That did it tear all Day,
Without an instant's Respite -
'T would look too far - to Die -

Delirium - diverts the Wretch
For Whom the Scaffold neighs -
The Hammock's Motion lulls the Heads
So close on Paradise -

A Reef - crawled easy from the Sea
Eats off the Brittle Line -
The Sailor doesn't know the Stroke -
Until He's past the Pain -

C. 1863 1935


709


Publication - is the Auction
Of the Mind of Man -
Poverty - be justifying
For so foul a thing

Possibly - but We - would rather
From Our Garret go
White - Unto the White Creator -
Than invest - Our Snow -

Thought belong to Him who gave it -
Then - to Him Who bear
Its Corporeal illustration - Sell
The Royal Air -

In the Parcel - Be the Merchant
Of the Heavenly Grace -
But reduce no Human Spirit
To Disgrace of Price -

C. 1863 1929


710


The Sunrise runs for Both -
The East - Her Purple Troth
Keeps with the Hill -
The Noon unwinds Her Blue

Till One Breadth cover Two -
Remotest - still -
Nor does the Night forget
A Lamp for Each - to set -

Wicks wide away -
The North - Her blazing Sign
Erects in Iodine-
Till Both - can see -

The Midnight's Dusky Arms
Clasp Hemispheres, and Homes
And so
Upon Her Bosom - One -
And One upon Her Hem -
Both lie -

C. 1863 1919


711


Strong Draughts of Their Refreshing Minds
To drink - enables Mine
Through Desert or the Wilderness
As bore it Sealed Wine-

To go elastic - Or as One
The Camel's trait - attained -
How powerful the Stimulus
Of an Hermetic Mind -

C. 1863 I929


712


Because I could not stop for Death-
He kindly stopped for me-
The Carriage held but just Ourselves-
And Immortality.

We slowly drove - He knew no haste
And I had put away
My labor and my leisure too,
For His Civility -

We passed the School, where Children strove
At Recess - In the Ring -
We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain -
We passed the Setting Sun -

Or rather - He passed Us -
The Dews drew quivering and chill -
For only Gossamer, my Gown -
My Tippet - only Tulle -

We paused before a House that seemed
A Swelling of the Ground -
The Roof was scarcely visible -
The Cornice - in the Ground -

Since then - 'tis Centuries - and yet
Feels shorter than the Day
I first surmised the Horses' Heads
Were toward Eternity -

C. 1863 1890


713


Fame of Myself, to justify,
All other Plaudit be
Superfluous - An Incense
Beyond Necessity -

Fame of Myself to lack - Although
My Name be else Supreme -
This were an Honor honorless -
A futile Diadem -

C. 1863 1945


714


Rests at Night
The Sun from shining,
Nature - and some Men -
Rest at Noon - some Men -
While Nature
And the Sun - go on -

C. 1863 I945


715


The World - feels Dusty
When We stop to Die -
We want the Dew - then -
Honors - taste dry -

Flags - vex a Dying face -
But the least Fan
Stirred by a friend's Hand-
Cools - like the Rain -

Mine be the Ministry
When thy Thirst comes-
And Hybla Balms -
Dews of Thessaly, to fetch -

C. 1863 1929


716


The Day undressed - Herself -
Her Garter - was of Gold -
Her Petticoat - of Purple plain -
Her Dimities - as old

Exactly - as the World -
And yet the newest Star -
Enrolled upon the Hemisphere
Be wrinkled - much as Her-

Too near to God - to pray-
Too near to Heaven - to fear -
The Lady of the Occident
Retired without a care-

Her Candle so expire
The flickering be seen
On Ball of Mast in Bosporus -
And Dome - and Window Pane -

C. 1863 1935


717


The Beggar Lad - dies early -
It's Somewhat in the Cold -
And Somewhat in the Trudging feet -
And haply, in the World -

The Cruel - smiling - bowing World -
That took its Cambric Way -
Nor heard the timid cry for "Bread" -
"Sweet Lady - Charity" -

Among Redeemed Children
If Trudging feet may stand-
The Barefoot time forgotten - so -
The Sleet - the bitter Wind -

The Childish Hands that teased for Pence
Lifted adoring - then -
To Him whom never Ragged - Coat
Did supplicate in vain -

C. 1863 1945


718


I meant to find Her when I came -
Death - had the same design -
But the Success - was His - it seems -
And the Surrender - Mine -

I meant to tell Her how I longed
For just this single time -
But Death had told Her so the first -
And she had past, with Him -

To wander - now- is my Repose -
To rest - To rest would be
A privilege of Hurricane
To Memory - and Me.

C. 1863 1896


719


A South Wind - has a pathos
Of individual Voice -
As One detect on Landings
An Emigrant's address.

A Hint of Ports and Peoples -
And much not understood -
The fairer - for the farness -
And for the foreignhood.

C. 1863 1945


720


No Prisoner be -
Where Liberty -
Himself - abide with Thee -

C. 1863 1932


721


Behind Me - dips Eternity -
Before Me - Immortality -
Myself - the Term between -
Death but the Drift of Eastern Gray,

Dissolving into Dawn away,
Before the West begin -
'Tis Kingdoms - afterward - they say -
In perfect - pauseless Monarchy -

Whose Prince - is Son of None -
Himself - His Dateless Dynasty -
Himself - Himself diversify -
In Duplicate divine -
'Tis Miracle before Me - then -

'Tis Miracle behind - between -
A Crescent in the Sea -
With Midnight to the North of Her -
And Midnight to the South of Her -
And Maelstrom - in the Sky -

C. 1863 1929


722


Sweet Mountains - Ye tell Me no lie -
Never deny Me - Never fly -
Those same unvarying Eyes
Turn on Me - when I fail - or feign,
Or take the Royal names in vain -
Their far - slow - Violet Gaze -

My Strong Madonnas - Cherish still -
The Wayward Nun - beneath the Hill -
Whose service - is to You -
Her latest Worship - When the Day
Fades from the Firmament away -
To lift Her Brows on You -

C. 1863 1945


723


It tossed - and tossed -
A little Brig I knew - O'ertook by Blast -
It spun - and spun -
And groped delirious, for Morn -

It slipped - and slipped -
As One that drunken - stept -
Its white foot tripped -
Then dropped from sight -

Ah, Brig - Good Night
To Crew and You -
The Ocean's Heart too smooth - too Blue -
To break for You -

C. 1863 1891


724


It's easy to invent a Life -
God does it - every Day -
Creation - but the Gambol
Of His Authority -

It's easy to efface it -
The thrifty Deity
Could scarce afford Eternity
To Spontaneity -

The Perished Patterns murmur -
But His Perturbless Plan
Proceed - inserting Here - a Sun -
There - leaving out a Man -

C. 1863 1929


725


Where Thou art - that - is Home -
Cashmere - or Calvary - the same -
Degree - or Shame -
I scarce esteem Location's Name -
So I may Come -

What Thou dost - is Delight -
Bondage as Play - be sweet -
Imprisonment - Content -
And Sentence - Sacrament -
Just We two - meet -

Where Thou art not - is Woe -
Tho' Bands of Spices - row -
What Thou dost not - Despair -
Tho' Gabriel - praise me - Sir -

C. 1863 1929


726


We thirst at first- 'tis Nature's Act -
And later - when we die -
A little Water supplicate -
Of fingers going by -

It intimates the finer want -
Whose adequate supply
Is that Great Water In the West -
Termed Immortality -

C. 1863 1896


727


Precious to Me - She still shall be -
Though She forget the name I bear -
The fashion of the Gown I wear -
The very Color of My Hair -

So like the Meadows - now -
I dared to show a Tress of Theirs
If haply - She might not despise
A Buttercup's Array -

I know the Whole - obscures the Part -
The fraction - that appeased the Heart
Till Number's Empery -
Remembered - as the Milliner's flower
When Summer's Everlasting Dower -
Confronts the dazzled Bee.

C. 1863 1945


728


Let Us play Yesterday -
I - the Girl at school -
You - and Eternity-the
Untold Tale -

Easing my famine
At my Lexicon -
Logarithm - had I - for Drink -
Twas a dry Wine -

Somewhat different - must be -
Dreams tint the Sleep -
Cunning Reds of Morning
Make the Blind - leap -

Still at the Egg - life -
Chafing the Shell -
When you troubled the Ellipse -
And the Bird fell -

Manacles be dim - they say -
To the new Free -
Liberty - Commoner -
Never could - to me -

'Twas my last gratitude
When I slept - at night -
Twas the first Miracle
Let in - with Light-

Can the Lark resume the Shell -
Easier - for the Sky -
Wouldn't Bonds hurt more
Than Yesterday?

Wouldn't Dungeons sorer grate
On the Man - free -
Just long enough to taste -
Then - doomed new -

God of the Manacle
As of the Free -
Take not my Liberty
Away from Me -

C. 1863 1935


729


Alter! When the Hills do-
Falter! When the Sun
Question if His Glory
Be the Perfect One -

Surfeit! When the Daffodil
Doth of the Dew -
Even as Herself - Sir -
I will - of You -

C. 1863 1890


730


Defrauded I a Butterfly -
The lawful Heir - for Thee -

C. 1863 1929


731


"I want" - it pleaded - All its life -
I want - was chief it said
When Skill entreated it- the last -
And when so newly dead -

I could not deem it late - to hear
That single - steadfast sigh -
The lips had placed as with a "Please"
Toward Eternity -

C. 1863 1945


732


She rose to His Requirement - dropt
The Playthings of Her Life
To take the honorable Work
Of Woman, and of Wife-

If ought She missed in Her new Day,
Of Amplitude, or Awe-
Or first Prospective - Or the Gold
In using, wear away,

It lay unmentioned - as the Sea
Develop Pearl, and Weed,
But only to Himself - be known
The Fathoms they abide -

C. 1863 1890


733


The Spirit is the Conscious Ear.
We actually Hear
When We inspect - that's audible -
That is admItted - Here -

For other Services - as Sound -
There hangs a smaller Ear
Outside the Castle - that Contain -
The other - only - Hear -

C. 1863 1945


734


If He were living - dare I ask -
And how if He be dead -
And so around the Words I went -
Of meeting them - afraid -

I hinted Changes - Lapse of Time -
The Surfaces of Years -
I touched with Caution - lest they crack -
And show me to my fears -

Reverted to adjoining Lives -
Adroitly turning out
Wherever I suspected Graves -
Twas prudenter - I thought -

And He - I pushed - With sudden force -
In face of the Suspense -
"Was buried" - "Buried"! "He!"
My Life just holds the Trench -

C. 1863 1929


735


Upon Concluded Lives
There's nothing cooler falls -
Than Life's sweet Calculations -
The mixIng Bells and Palls -

Makes LaceratIng Tune -
To Ears the DyIng Side -
'Tis Coronal- and Funeral -
Saluting - In the Road -

C. 1863 1945


736


Have any like Myself
Investigating March,
New Houses on the Hill descried -
And possibly a Church -

That were not, We are sure -
As lately as the Snow -
And are Today - if We exist -
Though how may this be so?

Have any like Myself
Conjectured Who may be
The Occupants of the Abodes -
So easy to the Sky -

'T would seem that God should be
The nearest Neighbor to -
And Heaven - a convenient Grace
For Show, or Company -

Have any like Myself
Preserved the Charm secure
By shunning carefully the Place
All Seasons of the Year,

Excepting March - 'Tis then
My Villages be seen -
And possibly a Steeple -
Not afterward - by Men -

C. 1863 1935


737


The Moon was but a Chin of Gold
A Night or two ago -
And now she turns Her perfect Face
Upon the World below -

Her Forehead is of Amplest Blonde -
Her Cheek - a Beryl hewn -
Her Eye unto the Summer Dew
The likest I have known -

Her Lips of Amber never part -
But what must be the smile
Upon Her Friend she could confer
Were such Her Silver will -

And what a privilege to be
But the remotest Star -
For Certainty She take Her Way
Beside Your Palace Door -

Her Bonnet is the Firmament -
The Universe - Her Shoe -
The Stars - the Trinkets at Her Belt -
Her Dimities - of Blue -

C. 1863 1896


738


You said that I "was Great" - one Day -
Then "Great" it be - If that please Thee -
Or Small - or any Size at all -
Nay - I'm the size suit Thee -

Tall - like the Stag - would that?
Or lower - like the Wren -
Or other heights of Other Ones
I've seen?

Tell which - It's dull to guess -
And I must be Rhinoceros
Or Mouse
At once - for Thee -

So say - If Queen it be -
Or Page - please Thee -
I'm that - or nought -
Or other thing - if other thing there be -
With just this Stipulus -
I suit Thee -

C. 1863 I945


739


I many times thought Peace had come
When Peace was far away -
As Wrecked Men - deem they sight the Land -
At Centre of the Sea -

And struggle slacker - but to prove
As hopelessly as I -
How many the fictitious Shores -
Before the Harbor be -

C. 1863 1891


740


You taught me Waiting with Myself -
Appointment strictly kept -
You taught me fortitude of Fate -
This - also - I have learnt -

An Altitude of Death, that could
No bitterer debar
Than Life - had done - before It -
Yet - there is a Science more -

The Heaven you know - to understand
That you be not ashamed
Of Me - in Christ's bright Audience
Upon the further Hand -

C. 1863 1929


741


Drama's Vitallest Expression is the Common Day
That arise and set about Us -
Other Tragedy

Perish in the Recitation -
This - the best enact
When the Audience is scattered
And the Boxes shut -

"Hamlet" to Himself were Hamlet -
Had not Shakespeare wrote -
Though the "Romeo" left no Record
Of his Juliet,

It were infinite enacted
In the Human Heart -
Only Theatre recorded
Owner cannot shut -

C. 1863 1929


742


Four Trees - upon a solitary Acre -
Without Design
Or Order, or Apparent Action -
Maintain -

The Sun - upon a Morning meets them -
The Wind -
No nearer Neighbor - have they -
But God -

The Acre gives them - Place -
They - Him - Attention of Passer by -
Of Shadow, or of Squirrel, haply -
Or Boy -

What Deed is Theirs unto the General Nature -
What Plan
They severally - retard - or further -
Unknown -

C. 1863 1945


743


The Birds reported from the South -
A News express to Me -
A spicy Charge, My little Posts -
But I am deaf - Today -

The Flowers - appealed - a timid Throng -
I reinforced the Door -
Go blossom to the Bees - I said -
And trouble Me - no More -

The Summer Grace, for Notice strove -
Remote - Her best Array -
The Heart - to stimulate the Eye
Refused too utterly -

At length, a Mourner, like Myself.
She drew away austere -
Her frosts to ponder - then it was
I recollected Her -

She suffered Me, for I had mourned -
I offered Her no word-
My Witness - was the Crape I bore -
Her - Witness - was Her Dead -

Thenceforward - We - together dwelt -
I never questioned Her -
Our Contract
A Wiser Sympathy

C. 1863 1935


744


Remorse - is Memory - awake -
Her Parties all astir -
A Presence of Departed Acts -
At window - and at Door -

Its Past - set down before the Soul
And lighted with a Match -
Perusal - to facilitate -
And help Belief to stretch -

Remorse is cureless - the Disease
Not even God - can heal -
For 'tis His institution - and
The Adequate of Hell -

C. 1863 1891


745


Renunciation - is a piercing Virtue -
The letting go
A Presence - for an Expectation -
Not now -

The putting out of Eyes -
Just Sunrise -
Lest Day -
Day's Great Progenitor -

Outvie
Renunciation - is the Choosing
Against itself -
Itself to Justify -

Unto Itself -
When larger function -
Make that appear -
Smaller - that Covered Vision - Here

C. 1863 1929


746


Never for Society
He shall seek in vain -
Who His own acquaintance
Cultivate - Of Men

Wiser Men may weary -
But the Man within
Never knew Satiety -
Better entertain

Than could Border Ballad -
Or Biscayan Hymn -
Neither introduction
Need You - unto Him -

C. 1863 1894


747


It dropped so low - in my Regard -
I heard it hit the Ground -
And go to pieces on the Stones
At bottom of my Mind -

Yet blamed the Fate that Hung it - less
Than I denounced Myself,
For entertaining Plated Wares
Upon my Silver Shelf -

C. 1863 1896


748


Autumn - overlooked my Knitting -
Dyes - said He - have I -
Could disparage a Flamingo -
Show Me them - said I -

Cochineal - I chose - for deeming
It resemble Thee -
And the little Border - Dusker -
For resembling Me -

C. 1863 1929


749


All but Death, can be Adjusted -
Dynasties repaired -
Systems - settled in their Sockets -
Citadels - dissolved -

Wastes of Lives - resown with Colors
By Succeeding Springs -
Death - unto itself - Exception
Is exempt from Change -

C. 1863 1929


750


Growth of Man - like Growth of Nature -
Gravitates within -
Atmosphere, and Sun endorse it -
But it stir - alone -

Each - its difficult -
Ideal Must achieve - Itself -
Through the solitary prowess
Of a Silent Life -

Effort - is the sole condition -
Patience of Itself -
Patience of opposing forces -
And intact Belief -

Looking on - is the Department
Of its Audience-
But Transaction - is assisted
By no Countenance -

C. 1863 1929


751


My Worthiness is all my Doubt-
His Merit - all my fear -
Contrasting which, my qualIty
Do lowlier - appear -

Lest I should insufficient prove
For His beloved Need -
The Chiefest ApprehensIon
Upon my thronging Mind -

'Tis true - that Deity to stoop
Inherently incline -
For nothing higher than Itself
Itself can rest upon -

So I - the undivine abode
Of His Elect Content -
Conform my Soul - as 'twere a Church,
Unto Her Sacrament

C. 1863 1896


752


So the Eyes accost - and sunder
In an Audience -
Stamped - occasionally - forever -
So may Countenance

Entertain - without addressing
Countenance of One
In a Neighboring Horizon -
Gone - as soon as known

C. 1863 1929


753


My Soul - accused me - And I quailed -
As Tongues of Diamond had reviled
All else accused me - and I smiled -
My Soul - that Morning - was My friend -

Her favor - is the best Disdain
Toward Artifice of Time - or Men -
But Her Disdain - 'twere lighter bear
A finger of Enamelled Fire -

C. 1863 1929


754


My Life had stood - a Loaded Gun -
In Corners - tIll a Day
The Owner passed - identified -
And carried Me away -

And now We roam in Sovereign Woods -
And now We hunt the Doe -
And every time I speak for Him -
The Mountains straight reply -

And do I smile, such cordial light
Upon the Valley glow -
It is as a Vesuvian face
Had let its pleasure through -

And when at Night - Our good Day done -
I guard My Master's Head -
'Tis better than the Eider - Duck's
Deep Pillow - to have shared -

To foe of His - I'm deadly foe -
None stir the second time -
On whom I lay a Yellow Eye -
Or an emphatic Thumb -

Though I than He - may longer live
He longer must - than I -
For I have but the power to kill,
Without - the power to die -

C. 1863 1929


755


No Bobolink - reverse his Singing
When the only Tree
Ever He minded occupying
By the Farmer be -

Clove to the Root -
His Spacious Future -
Best Horizon - gone -
Whose Music be His
Only Anodyne -
Brave Bobolink

C. 1863 1945


756


One Blessing had I than the rest
So larger to my Eyes
That I stopped gauging - satisfied -
For this enchanted size -

It was the limit of my Dream -
The focus of my Prayer -
A perfect - paralyzing Bliss -
Contented as Despair -

I knew no more of Want - or Cold -
Phantasms both become
For this new Value in the Soul -
Supremest Earthly Sum -

The Heaven below the Heaven above -
Obscured with ruddier Blue -
Life's Latitudes leant over - full -
The Judgment perished - too-

Why Bliss so scantily disburse -
Why Paradise defer -
Why Floods be served to Us - In Bowls -
I speculate no more

C. 1863 1896


757


The Mountains - grow unnotlced -
Their Purple figures rise
Without attempt - Exhaustion -
Assistance - or Applause -

In Their Eternal Faces
The Sun - with just delight
Looks long - and last - and golden -
For fellowship - at night

C. 1863 1929


758


These - saw Visions -
Latch them softly -
These - held Dimples -
Smooth them slow -
This - addressed departing accents -
Quick - Sweet Mouth - to miss thee so -

This - We stroked -
Unnumbered Satin -
These - we held among our own -
Fingers of the Slim Aurora -
Not so arrogant - this Noon -

These - adjust - that ran to meet us -
Pearl - for Stocking - Pearl for Shoe -
Paradise - the only Palace
Fit for Her reception - now -

C. 1863 1935


759


He fought like those - Who've nought to lose -
Bestowed Himself to Balls
As One who for a further Life
Had not a further Use -

Invited Death - with bold attempt -
But Death was Coy of Him
As Other Men, were Coy of Death -
To Him - to live - was Doom -

His Comrades, shifted like the Flakes
When Gusts reverse the Snow -
But He - was left alive Because
Of Greediness to die -

C. 1863 1935


760


Most she touched me by her muteness -
Most she won me by the way
She presented her small figure -
Plea itself - for Charity -

Were a Crumb my whole possession -
Were there famine in the land -
Were it my resource from starving -
Could I such a plea withstand -

Not upon her knee to thank me
Sank this Beggar from the Sky -
But the Crumb partook - departed -
And returned On High -

I supposed - when sudden
Such a Praise began
'Twas as Space sat singing
To herself - and men-

'Twas the Winged Beggar -
Afterward I learned
To her Benefactor
Making Gratitude

C. 1863 1929


761


From Blank to Blank -
A Threadless Way
I pushed Mechanic feet -
To stop - or perish - or advance -
Alike indifferent-

If end I gained
It ends beyond
Indefinite disclosed -
I shut my eyes - and groped as well
'Twas lighter - to be Blind -

C. 1863 1929


762


The Whole of it came not at once -
'Twas Murder by degrees -
A Thrust - and then for Life a chance -
The Bliss to cauterize -

The Cat reprieves the Mouse
She eases from her teeth
Just long enough for Hope to tease -
Then mashes it to death -

'Tis Life's award - to die -
Contenteder if once -
Than dying half - then rallying
For consciouser Eclipse -

C. 1863 1945


763


He told a homely tale
And spotted it with tears -
Upon his infant face was set
The Cicatrice of years -

All crumpled was the cheek
No other kiss had known
Than flake of snow, divided with
The Redbreast of the Barn -

If Mother - in the Grave-
Or Father - on the Sea-
Or Father in the Firmament -
Or Brethren, had he -

If Commonwealth below,
Or Commonwealth above
Have missed a Barefoot Citizen -
I've ransomed it - alive -

C. 1863 1945


764


Presentiment - is that long Shadow - on the Lawn -
Indicative that Suns go down -
The Notice to the startled Grass
That Darkness - is about to pass -

C. 1863 1890


765


You constituted Time -
I deemed Eternity
A Revelation of Yourself -
Twas therefore Deity

The Absolute - removed
The Relative away -
That I unto Himself adjust
My slow idolatry -

C. 1863 1945


766


My Faith is larger than the Hills -
So when the Hills decay -
My Faith must take the Purple Wheel
To show the Sun the way -

'Tis first He steps upon the Vane -
And then - upon the Hill -
And then abroad the World He go
To do His Golden will -

And if His Yellow feet should miss -
The Bird would not arise -
The Flowers would slumber on their Stems -
No Bells have Paradise -

How dare I, therefore, stint a faith
On which so vast depends -
Lest Firmament should fall for me -
The Rivet in the Bands

To offer brave assistance
To Lives that stand alone -
When One has failed to stop them -
Is Human - but Divine

To lend an Ample Sinew
Unto a Nameless Man -
Whose Homely Benediction
No other - stopped to earn -

C. 1863 1929


768


When I hoped, I recollect
Just the place I stood -
At a Window facing West -
Roughest Air - was good -

Not a Sleet could bite me -
Not a frost could cool -
Hope it was that kept me warm -
Not Menno shawl-

When I feared - I recollect
Just the Day it was -
Worlds were lying out to Sun -
Yet how Nature froze -

Icicles upon my soul
Prickled Blue and Cool -
Bird went praising everywhere -
Only Me - was still -

And the Day that I despaired -
This - if I forget
Nature will - that it be Night
After Sun has set -

Darkness intersect her face -
And put out her eye -
Nature hesitate - before
Memory and I -

C. 1863 1929


769


One and One - are One -
Two - be finished using -
Well enough for Schools -
But for Minor Choosing -

Life - just - Or Death -
Or the Everlasting -
More - would be too vast
For the Soul's Comprising -

C. 1863 1929


770


I lived on Dread -
To Those who know
The Stimulus there is
In Danger - Other impetus
Is numb - and Vitalless-

As 'twere a Spur - upon the Soul -
A Fear will urge it where
To go without the Spectre's aid
Were Challenging Despair.

C. 1863 1891


771


None can experience stint
Who Bounty - have not known -
The fact of Famine - could not be
Except for Fact of Corn -

Want - is a meagre Art
Acquired by Reverse -
The Poverty that was not Wealth -
Cannot be Indigence.

C. 1863 1945


772


The hallowing of Pain
Like hallowing of Heaven,
Obtains at a corporeal cost-
The Summit is not given

To Him who strives severe
At middle of the Hill -
But He who has achieved the Top -
All - is the price of All -

C. 1863 1945


773


Deprived of other Banquet,
I entertained Myself -
At first - a scant nutrition -
An insufficient Loaf -

But grown by slender addings
To so esteemed a Size
'Tis sumptuous enough for me -
And almost to suffice

A Robin's famine able -
Red Pilgrim, He and I -
A Berry from our table
Reserve - for charity -

C. 1863 1945


774


It is a lonesome Glee -
Yet sanctifies the Mind -
With fair association -
Afar upon the Wind

A Bird to overhear
Delight without a Cause -
Arrestless as invisible -
A matter of the Skies.

C. 1863 1945


775


If Blame be my side - forfeit Me -
But doom me not to forfeit Thee -
To forfeit Thee? The very name
Is sentence from Belief - and Home -

C. 1863 1945


776


Purple -
The Color of a Queen, is this -
The Color of a Sun
At setting - this and Amber -
Beryl - and this, at Noon -

And when at night - Auroran widths
Fling suddenly on men -
'Tis this - and WItchcraft - nature keeps
A Rank - for Iodine -

C. 1863 1945


777


The Loneliness One dare not sound -
And would as soon surmise
As in its Grave go plumbing
To ascertain the Size -

The Loneliness whose worst alarm
Is lest itself should see -
And perish from before Itself
For just a scrutiny -

The Horror not to be surveyed -
But skirted in the Dark -
With Consciousness suspended -
And Being under Lock-

I fear me this - is loneliness -
The Maker of the soul
Its Caverns and its Corridors
Illuminate - or seal -

C. 1863 1945


778


This that would greet - an hour ago -
Is quaintest Distance - now -
Had it a Guest from Paradise -
Nor glow, would it, nor bow -

Had it a notice from the Noon
Nor beam would it nor warm -
Match me the Silver Reticence-
Match me the Solid Calm -

C. 1863 1945


779


The Service without Hope -
Is tenderest, I think -
Because 'tis unsustained
By stint - Rewarded Work -

Has impetus of Gain -
And impetus of Goal -
There is no Diligence like that
That knows not an Until -

C. 1863 1945


780


The Truth - is stirless -
Other force - may be presumed to move -
This - then - is best for confidence -
When oldest Cedars swerve -

And Oaks untwist their fists -
And Mountains - feeble - lean -
How excellent a Body, that
Stands without a Bone -

How vigorous a Force
That holds without a Prop -
Truth stays Herself - and every man
That trusts Her - boldly up -

C. 1863 1945


781


To wait an Hour - is long -
If Love be just beyond -
To wait Eternity - is short -
If Love reward the end -

C. 1863 1945


782


There is an arid Pleasure -
As different from Joy -
As Frost is different from Dew -
Like element - are they -

Yet one - rejoices Flowers -
And one - the Flowers abhor -
The finest Honey - curdled -
Is worthless - to the Bee -

C. 1863 1945


783


The Birds begun at Four o'clock -
Their period for Dawn -
A Music numerous as space -
But neighboring as Noon -

I could not count their Force -
Their Voices did expend
As Brook by Brook bestows itself
To multiply the Pond.

Their Witnesses were not -
Except occasional man -
In homely industry arrayed -
To overtake the Morn -

Nor was it for applause -
That I could ascertain -
But independent Ecstasy
Of Deity and Men -

By Six, the Flood had done -
No Tumult there had been
Of Dressing, or Departure -
And yet the Band was gone -

The Sun engrossed the East -
The Day controlled the World -
The Miracle that introduced
Forgotten, as fulfilled.

C. 1863 1945


784


Bereaved of all, I went abroad -
No less bereaved was I
Upon a New Peninsula -
The Grave preceded me -

Obtained my Lodgings, ere myself -
And when I sought my Bed -
The Grave it was reposed upon
The Pillow for my Head -

I waked to find it first awake -
I rose - it followed me -
I tried to drop it in the Crowd -
To lose it in the Sea -

In Cups of artificial Drowse
To steep its shape away -
The Grave - was finished - but the Spade
Remained In Memory -

C. 1863 1896


785


They have a little Odor - that to me
Is metre - nay - 'tis melody -
And spiciest at fading - indicate -
A Habit - of a Laureate -

C. 1863 1945


786


Severer Service of myself
I - hastened to demand
To fill the awful Vacuum
Your life had left behind -

I worried Nature with my Wheels
When Hers had ceased to run -
When she had put away Her Work
My own had just begun.

I strove to weary Brain and Bone -
To harass to fatigue
The glittering Retinue of nerves -
Vitality to clog

To some dull comfort Those obtain
Who put a Head away
They knew the Hair to -
And forget the color of the Day -

Affliction would not be appeased -
The Darkness braced as firm
As all my stratagem had been
The Midnight to confirm -

No Drug for Consciousness - can be -
Alternative to die
Is Nature's only Pharmacy
For Being's Malady -

C. 1863 1945


787


Such is the Force of Happiness -
The Least - can lift a Ton
Assisted by its stimulus -
Who Misery - sustain -

No Sinew can afford -
The Cargo of Themselves -
Too infinite for Consciousness'
Slow capabilities.

C. 1863 1945


788


Joy to have merited the Pain -
To merit the Release -
Joy to have perished every step -
To Compass Paradise -

Pardon - to look upon thy face -
With these old fashioned Eyes -
Better than new - could be - for that -
Though bought in Paradise -

Because they looked on thee before -
And thou hast looked on them -
Prove Me - My Hazel Witnesses
The features are the same -

So fleet thou wert, when present -
So infinite - when gone -
An Orient's Apparition -
Remanded of the Morn -

The Height I recollect -
'Twas even with the Hills -
The Depth upon my Soul was notched -
As Floods - on Whites of Wheels -

To Haunt - till Time have dropped
His last Decade away,
And Haunting actualize - to last
At least - Eternity -

C. 1863 1929


789


On a Columnar Self -
How ample to rely
In Tumult - or Extremity -
How good the Certainty

That Lever cannot pry -
And Wedge cannot divide
Conviction - That Granitic Base -
Though None be on our Side -

Suffice Us - for a Crowd -
Ourself - and Rectitude -
And that Assembly - not far off
From furthest Spirit - God -

C. 1863 1929


790


Nature - the Gentlest Mother is,
Impatient of no Child -
The feeblest - or the waywardest -
Her Admonition mild -

In Forest - and the Hill -
By Traveller - be heard -
Restraining Rampant Squirrel -
Or too impetuous Bird -

How fair Her Conversation -
A Summer afternoon -
Her Household - Her Assembly -
And when the Sun go down -

Her Voice among the Aisles
Incite the timid prayer
Of the minutest Cricket -
The most unworthy Flower -

When all the Children sleep -
She turns as long away
As will suffice to light Her lamps -
Then bending from the Sky -

With infinite Affection -
And infiniter Care -
Her Golden finger on Her lip -
Wills Silence - Everywhere -

C. 1863 1891


791


God gave a Loaf to every Bird -
But just a Crumb - to Me -
I dare not eat It - tho' I starve -
My poignant luxury -

To own It - touch it -
Prove the feat- that made the Pellet mine -
Too happy - for my Sparrow's chance -
For Ampler Coveting -

It might be Famine - all around -
I could not miss an Ear -
Such Plenty smiles upon my Board -
My Garner shows so fair -

I wonder how the Rich - may feel -
An Indiaman - An Earl -
I deem that I - with but a Crumb -
Am Sovereign of them all -

C. 1863 1891


792


Through the strait pass of suffering -
The Martyrs - even - trod.
Their feet - upon Temptation -
Their faces - upon God -

A stately - shriven - Company -
Convulsion - playing round -
Harmless - as streaks of Meteor -
Upon a Planet's Bond -

Their faith - the everlasting troth -
Their Expectation - fair -
The Needle - to the North Degree -
Wades - so - thro' polar Air!

C. 1863 1891


793


Grief is a Mouse -
And chooses Wainscot in the Breast
For His Shy House -
And baffles quest -

Grief is a Thief - quick startled -
Pricks His Ear - report to hear
Of that Vast Dark -
That swept His Being - back -

Grief is a Juggler - boldest at the Play -
Lest if He flinch - the eye that way
Pounce on His Bruises - One - say - or Three -
Grief is a Gourmand - spare His luxury-

Best Grief is Tongueless- before He'll tell -
Burn Him in the Public Square -
His Ashes - will
Possibly - if they refuse - How then know -
Since a Rack couldn't coax a syllable - now.

C. 1863 1945


794


A Drop fell on the Apple Tree -
Another - on the Roof -
A Half a Dozen kissed the Eaves -
And made the Gables laugh -

A few went out to help the Brook
That went to help the Sea -
Myself Conjectured were they Pearls -
What Necklaces could be-

The Dust replaced, in Hoisted Roads -
The Birds jocoser sung -
The Sunshine threw his Hat away-
The Bushes - spangles flung-

The Breezes brought dejected Lutes-
And bathed them in the Glee-
Then Orient showed a single Flag,
And signed the Fete away -

C. 1863 1890


795


Her final Summer was it -
And yet We guessed it not -
If tenderer industriousness
Pervaded Her, We thought

A further force of life
Developed from within -
When Death lit all the shortness up
It made the hurry plain -

We wondered at our blindness
When nothing was to see
But Her Carrara Guide post -
At Our Stupidity -

When duller than our dullness
The Busy Darling lay -
So busy was she - finishing -
So leisurely - were We -

C. 1863 1891


796


Who Giants know, with lesser Men
Are incomplete, and shy -
For Greatness, that is ill at ease
In minor Company -

A Smaller, could not be perturbed -
The Summer Gnat displays -
Unconscious that his single Fleet
Do not comprise the skies -

C. 1863 1929


797


By my Window have I for Scenery
Just a Sea - with a Stem -
If the Bird and the Farmer - deem it a "Pine" -
The Opinion will serve - for them-

It has no Port, nor a "Line" - but the Jays -
That split their route to the Sky -
Or a Squirrel, whose giddy Peninsula
May be easIer reached - this way-

For Inlands - the Earth is the under side-
And the upper side -is the Sun -
And its Commerce - if Commerce it have -
Of Spice - I infer from the Odors borne -

Of Its Voice - to affirm - when the Wind is within -
Can the Dumb - define the Divine?
The Definition of Melody - is -
That Definition is none -

It - suggests to our Faith -
They-suggest to our Sight -
When the latter - is put away
I shall meet with Conviction I somewhere met
That Immortality -

Was the Pine at my Window a "Fellow
Of the Royal" Infinity?
Apprehensions - are God's introductions -
To be hallowed - accordingly -

C. 1863 1929


798


She staked her Feathers - Gained an Arc -
Debated - Rose again-
This time - beyond the estimate
Of Envy, or of Men -

And now, among Circumference -
Her steady Boat be seen -
At home - among the Billows - As
The Bough where she was born -

C. 1863 1935


799


Despair's advantage is achieved
By suffering - Despair -
To be assisted of Reverse
One must Reverse have bore -

The Worthiness of Suffering like
The Worthiness of Death
Is ascertained by tasting -
As can no other Mouth

Of Savors - make us conscious -
As did ourselves partake -
Affliction feels Impalpable
Until Ourselves are struck -

C. 1863 1935


800


Two - were immortal twice -
The privilege of few -
Eternity - obtained - in Time -
Reversed Divinity -

That our ignoble Eyes
The quality conceive
Of Paradise superlative -
Through their Comparative.

C. 1863 1945


801


I play at Riches - to appease
The Clamoring for Gold -
It kept me from a Thief, I think,
For often, overbold

With Want, and Opportunity -
I could have done a Sin
And been Myself that easy Thing
An independent Man -

But often as my lot displays
Too hungry to be borne
I deem Myself what I would be -
And novel Comforting

My Poverty and I derive-
We question if the Man -
Who own - Esteem the Opulence -
As We - Who never Can -

Should ever these exploring Hands
Chance Sovereign on a Mine -
Or in the long - uneven term
To win, become their turn -

How fitter they will be-for Want -
Enlightening so well
I know not which, Desire, or Grant -
Be wholly beautiful -

C. 1863 1935


802


Time feels so vast that were it not
For an Eternity -
I fear me this Circumference
Engross my Finity -

To His exclusion, who prepare
By Processes of Size
For the Stupendous Vision
Of His diameters -

C. 1863 1935


803


Who Court obtain within Himself
Sees every Man a King -
And Poverty of Monarchy
Is an interior thing -

No Man depose
Whom Fate Ordain -
And Who can add a Crown
To Him who doth continual
Conspire against His Own

C. 1863 1929


804


No Notice gave She, but a Change -
No Message, but a Sigh -
For Whom, the Time did not suffice
That She should specify.

She was not warm, though Summer shone
Nor scrupulous of cold
Though Rime by Rime, the steady Frost
Upon Her Bosom piled -

Of shrinking ways - she did not fright
Though all the Village looked-
But held Her gravity aloft-
And met the gaze - direct -

And when adjusted like a Seed
In careful fitted Ground
Unto the Everlasting Spring
And hindered but a Mound

Her Warm return, if so she chose -
And We - imploring drew -
Removed our invitation by
As Some She never knew -

C. 1863 1935


805


This Bauble was preferred of Bees -
By Butterflies admired
At Heavenly - Hopeless Distances-
Was justified of Bird -

Did Noon - enamel - in Herself
Was Summer to a Score
Who only knew of Universe -
It had created Her.

C. 1863 1935


806


A Plated Life - diversified
With Gold and Silver Pain
To prove the presence of the Ore
In Particles - 'tis when

A Value struggle - it exist -
A Power - will proclaim
Although Annihilation pile
Whole Chaoses on Him -

C. I863 1935


807


Expectation - is Contentment -
Gain - Satiety -
But Satiety - Conviction
Of Necessity

Of an Austere trait in Pleasure -
Good, without alarm
Is a too established Fortune -
Danger - deepens Sum -

C. I863 1929


808


So set Its Sun in Thee
What Day be dark to me -
What Distance - far-
So I the Ships may see
That touch - how seldomly -
Thy Shore?

C. 1864 1914


809


Unable are the Loved to die
For Love is Immortality,
Nay, it is Deity -
Unable they that love - to die
For Love reforms Vitality
Into Divinity.

C. 1864 1932


810


Her Grace is all she has -
And that, so least displays -
One Art to recognize, must be,
Another Art, to praise.

C. 1864- 1914


811


The Veins of other Flowers
The Scarlet Flowers are
Till Nature leisure has for Terms
As "Branch," and "Jugular."

We pass, and she abides.
We conjugate Her Skill
While She creates and federates
Without a syllable.

C. 1864 I945


812


A Light exists in Spring
Not present on the Year
At any other period -
When March is scarcely here

A Color stands abroad
On Solitary Fields
That Science cannot overtake
But Human Nature feels.

It waits upon the Lawn,
It shows the furthest Tree
Upon the furthest Slope you know
It almost speaks to you.

Then as Horizons step
Or Noons report away
Without the Formula of sound
It passes and we stay -

A quality of loss
Affecting our Content
As Trade had suddenly encroached
Upon a Sacrament.

C. 1864 1896


813


This quiet Dust was Gentlemen and Ladies
And Lads and Girls -
Was laughter and ability and Sighing
And Frocks and Curls.

This Passive Place a Summer's nimble mansion
Where Bloom and Bees
Exists an Oriental Circuit
Then cease, like these -

C. 1864 I9I4


814


One Day is there of the Series
Termed Thanksgiving Day.
Celebrated part at Table
Part in Memory.

Neither Patriarch nor Pussy
I dissect the Play
Seems it to my Hooded thinking
Reflex Holiday.

Had there been no sharp Subtraction
From the early Sum -
Not an Acre or a Caption
Where was once a Room -

Not a Mention, whose small Pebble
Wrinkled any Sea,
Unto Such, were such Assembly
'Twere Thanksgiving Day.

C. 1864 1896


815


The Luxury to apprehend
The Luxury 'twould be
To look at Thee a single time
An Epicure of Me

In whatsoever Presence makes
Till for a further Food
I scarcely recollect to starve
So first am I supplied -

The Luxury to meditate
The Luxury it was
To banquet on thy Countenance
A Sumptuousness bestows

On plainer Days, whose Table far
As Certainty can see
Is laden with a single Crumb
The Consciousness of Thee.

C. 1864 1914


816


A Death blow is a Life blow to Some
Who till they died, did not alive become -
Who had they lived, had died but when
They died, Vitality begun.

C. 1864 1891


817


Given in Marriage unto Thee
Oh thou Celestial Host -
Bride of the Father and the Son
Bride of the Holy Ghost.

Other Betrothal shall dissolve -
Wedlock of will, decay -
Only the Keeper of this Ring
Conquer Mortality -

C.1864 1896


818


I could not drink it, Sweet,
Till You had tasted first,
Though cooler than the Water was
The Thoughtfulness of Thirst.

C. 1864 1932


819


All I may, if small,
Do it not display
Larger for the Totalness
'Tis Economy

To bestow a World
And withhold a Star -
Utmost, is Munificence -
Less, tho' larger, poor.

C. 1864 I9I4


820


All Circumstances are the Frame
In which His Face is set-
All Latitudes exist for His
Sufficient Continent-

The Light His Action, and the Dark
The Leisure of His will -
In Him Existence serve or set
A Force illegible.

C. 1864 I9I4


821


Away from Home are some and I -
An Emigrant to be
In a Metropolis of Homes
Is easy, possibly -

The Habit of a Foreign Sky
We - difficult - acquire
As Children, who remain in Face
The more their Feet retire.

C. 1864 1894


822


This Consciousness that is aware
Of Neighbors and the Sun
Will be the one aware of Death
And that itself alone

Is traversing the interval
Experience between
And most profound experiment
Appointed unto Men -

How adequate unto itself
Its properties shall be
Itself unto itself and none
Shall make discovery.

Adventure most unto itself
The Soul condemned to be -
Attended by a single Hound
Its own identity.

C. 1864 I945


823


Not what We did, shall be the test
When Act and will are done
But what Our Lord infers We would
Had We diviner been-

C. 1864 I929


824


The Wind begun to knead the Grass -
As Women do a Dough -
He flung a Hand full at the Plain -
A Hand full at the Sky -
The Leaves unhooked themselves from Trees -
And started all abroad -
The Dust did scoop itself like Hands -
And throw away the Road -
The Wagons quickened on the Street -
The Thunders gossiped low -
The Lightning showed a Yellow Head -
And then a livid Toe -
The Birds put up the Bars to Nests -
The Cattle flung to Barns -
Then came one drop of Giant Rain -
And then, as if the Hands
That held the Dams - had parted hold -
The Waters Wrecked the Sky -
But overlooked my Father's House -
Just Quartering a Tree -

first version
C. 1864 1955

The Wind begun to rock the Grass
With threatening Tunes and low -
He threw a Menace at the Earth -
A Menace at the Sky.
The Leaves unhooked themselves from Trees -
And started all abroad
The Dust did scoop itself like Hands
And threw away the Road.
The Wagons quickened on the Streets
The Thunder hurried slow -
The Lightning showed a Yellow Beak
And then a livid Claw.
The Birds put up the Bars to Nests -
The Cattle fled to Barns -
There came one drop of Giant Rain
And then as if the Hands
That held the Dams had parted hold
The Waters Wrecked the Sky.
But overlooked my Father's House -
Just quarterIng a Tree

second version
C. 1864 1891


825


An Hour is a Sea
Between a few, and me -
With them would Harbor be-

C. 1864 1915


826


Love reckons by itself - alone -
"As large as I" - relate the Sun
To One who never felt it blaze -
Itself is all the like it has -

C. 1864 1915


827


The Only News I know
Is Bulletins all Day
From Immortality.

The Only Shows I see -
Tomorrow and Today -
Perchance Eternity -

The Only One I meet
Is God - The Only Street -
Existence - This traversed

If Other News there be -
Or Admirabler Show -
I'll tell it You -

C. 1864 1915


828


The Robin is the One
That interrupt the Morn
With hurried - few - express Reports
When March is scarcely on -

The Robin is the One
That overflow the Noon
With her cherubic quantlty -
An April but begun -

The Robin is the One
That speechless from her Nest
Submit that Home - and Certainty
And Sanctity, are best

C. 1864 1929


829


Ample make this Bed -
Make this Bed with Awe -
In it walt till Judgment break
Excellent and Fair.

Be its Mattress stralght -
Be its Pillow round -
Let no Sunrise' yellow noise
Interrupt this Ground

C. 1864 1891


830


To this World she returned.
But with a tinge of that -
A Compound manner,
As a Sod
Espoused a Violet,
That chiefer to the Skies
Than to Himself, allied,
Dwelt hesItating, half of Dust,
And half of Day, the Bride.

C. 1864 1894


831


Dying! To be afraid of thee
One must to thine Artillery
Have left exposed a Friend -
Than thine old Arrow is a Shot
Delivered straighter to the Heart
The leaving Love behind.

Not for itself, the Dust is shv,
But, enemy, Beloved be
Thy Batteries divorce.
Fight sternly in a Dying eye
Two Armies, Love and Certainty
And Love and the Reverse.

C. 1864 1945


832


Soto! Explore thyself!
Therein thyself shalt find
The "Undiscovered Continent" -
No Settler had the Mind.

C. 1864 1932


833


Perhaps you think me stooping
I'm not ashamed of that
Christ - stooped until He touched the Grave -
Do those at Sacrament

Commemorate Dishonor
Or love annealed of love
Until it bend as low as Death
Redignified, above?

C. 1864 1894


834


Before He comes we weigh the Time!
'Tis Heavy and 'tis Light.
When He depart, an Emptiness
Is the prevailing Freight.

C. 1864 1894


835


Nature and God - I neIther knew
Yet Both so well knew me
They startled, like Executors
Of My identity.

Yet Neither told - that I could learn -
My Secret as secure
As Herschel's private interest
Or Mercury's affairc.

C. 1864 1894


836


Truth - is as old as God-
His Twin identity
And will endure as long as He
A Co-Eternity-

And perish on the Day
Himself is borne away
From Mansion of the Universe
A lifeless Deity.

C. 1864 1894


837


How well I knew Her not
Whom not to know has been
A Bounty in prospective, now
Next Door to mine the Pain.

C. 1864 1894


838


ImpossibilIty, like Wine
Exhilarates the Man
Who tastes it, Possibility
Is flavorless - Combine -

A Chance's faintest Tincture
And in the former Dram
Enchantment makes ingredient
As certainly as Doom -

C. 1864 1945


839


Always Mine!
No more Vacation!
Term of Light this Day begun!
FailIess as the faIr rotation
Of the Seasons and the Sun.

Old the Grace, but new the Subjects -
Old, indeed, the East,
Yet upon His Purple Programme
Every Dawn, is first.

C. 1864 1945


840


I cannot buy it - 'tis not sold -
There is no other in the World -
Mine was the only one

I was so happy I forgot
To shut the Door And it went out
And I am all alone-

If I could find it Anywhere
I would not mind the journey there
Though it took all my store

But just to look it In the Eye-
"Did'st thou?" "Thou did'st not mean," to say,
Then, turn my Face away.

C. 1864 1945


841


A Moth the hue of this
Haunts Candles in Brazil.
Nature's Expenence would make
Our Reddest Second pale.

Nature is fond, I sometimes think,
Of Trinkets, as a Girl.

C. 1864 1945


842


Good to hide, and hear' em hunt'
Better, to be found,
If one care to, that is,
The Fox fits the Hound-

Good to know, and not tell,
Best, to know and tell,
Can one find the rare Ear
Not too dullc.

C. 1864 1945


843


I made slow Riches but my Gain
Was steady as the Sun
And every Night, it numbered more
Than the preceding One

All Days, I did not earn the same
But my perceiveless Gain
Inferred the less by Growing than
The Sum that it had grown.

C. 1864 1945


844


Spring is the Period
Express from God.
Among the other seasons
Himself abide,

But dumb March and April
None strr abroad
Without a cordial interview
With God

C. 1864 1945


845


Be Mine the Doom -
Sufficient Fame -
To perish in Her Hand!

C. 1864 1945


846


Twice had Summer her faIr Verdure
Proffered to the Plain -
Twice a Winter's silver Fracture
On the Rivers been -

Two full Autumns for the Squirrel
Bounteous prepared -
Nature, Had'st thou not a Berry
For thy wandering Bird?

C. 1864 1945


847


Finite - to fail, but infinite to Venture -
For the one ship that struts the shore
Many's the gallant - overwhelmed Creature
Nodding in Navies nevermore -

C. 1864 1896


848


Just as He spoke it from his Hands
This Edifice remain -
A Turret more, a Turret less
Dishonor his Design -

According as his skill prefer
It perish, or endure -
Content, soe'er, it ornament
His absent character.

C. 1864 1945


849


The good will of a Flower
The Man who would possess
Must first present
Certificate
Of minted Holiness.

C. 1864 1945


850


I sing to use the Waiting
My Bonnet but to tie
And shut the Door unto my House
No more to do have I

Till His best step approaching
We journey to the Day
And tell each other how We sung
To Keep the Dark away.

C. 1864 1896