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 --
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 --
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 --
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 --
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 --
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 --
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!
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.
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!
609
I Years had been from Home
And now before the Door
I dared not enter, lest a Face
I never saw before
Stare solid 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 --
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 --
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?
612
It would have starved a Gnat --
To live so small as I --
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 --
Not 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 --
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 --
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 --
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 --
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 --
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 --
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 --
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 --
620
It makes no difference abroad --
The Seasons -- fit -- the same --
The Mornings blossom into Noons --
And split their Pods of Flame --
Wild flowers -- 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 --
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?"
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 settle 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
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 --
624
Forever -- it 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 Days --
No different Our Years would be
From Anno Domini's --
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 --
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 --
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 --
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 --
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 Gravitations --
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 --
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 --
631
Ourselves were wed one summer -- dear --
Your Vision -- was in June --
And when Your little Lifetime failed,
I wearied -- 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 mine -- in Frosts -- was sown --
And yet, one Summer, we were Queens --
But You -- were crowned in June --
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 --
633
When Bells stop ringing -- Church -- begins
The Positive -- of Bells --
When Cogs -- stop -- that's Circumference --
The Ultimate -- of Wheels.
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 Stern --
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 --
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.
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 --
637
The Child's faith is new --
Whole -- like His Principle --
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 --
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 --
639
My Portion is Defeat -- today --
A paler luck than Victory --
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
Contender -- to die --
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 --
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.
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?
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?
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 --
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 --
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
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 --
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 future --
Ne'er so far behind --
For My Heaven --
Had I not been
Most enough -- denied?
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 --
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.
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 --
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 Check 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 lookinp up --
The Liberty we knew
Avoided -- like a Dream --
Too wide for any Night but Heaven --
If That -- indeed -- redeem --
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
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?
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 --
'Twould magnify -- the Gratitude --
And not reduce -- the Gold --
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 --
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 of narrow Hands
To gather Paradise --
658
Whole Gulfs -- of Red, and Fleets -- of Red --
And Crews -- of solid Blood --
Did place upon the West -- Tonight --
As 'twere specific Ground --
And They -- appointed Creatures --
In Authorized Arrays --
Due -- promptly -- as a Drama --
That bows -- and disappears --
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.
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 --
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.
662
Embarrassment of one another
And God
Is Revelation's limit,
Aloud
Is nothing that is chief,
But still,
Divinity dwells under a seal.
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 it 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 stain!
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!
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 --
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 --
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 Topic 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 --
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.
669
No Romance sold unto
Could so enthrall a Man
As the perusal of
His Individual One --
'Tis Fiction's -- When 'tis small enough
To Credit -- 'Tisn't true!
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 --
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 --
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 Preparation --
Escape -- or Substitute --
Indifference to Him --
The Dower -- as the Doom --
His Office -- but to execute
Fate's -- Telegram -- to Him --
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 -- flings in Paradise --
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 --
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 --
676
Least Bee that brew --
A Honey's Weight
Content Her smallest fraction help
The Amber Quantity --
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!
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"
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 --
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 Saint's slow diligence --
The Sky --
Ungained -- it may be -- by a Life's low Venture --
But then --
Eternity enable the endeavoring
Again.
681
Soil of Flint, if steady tilled --
Will refund by Hand --
Seed of Palm, by Libyan Sun
Fructified in Sand --
682
'Twould 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 --
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 --
684
Best Gains -- must have the Losses' Test --
To constitute them -- Gains --
685
Not "Revelation" -- 'tis -- that waits,
But our unfurnished eyes --
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 --
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!
688
"Speech" -- is a prank of Parliament --
"Tears" -- is a trick of the nerve --
But the Heart with the heaviest freight on --
Doesn't -- always -- move --
689
The Zeroes -- taught us -- Phosphorous --
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!
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 Robbins --
The Eagle's Golden Breakfast strangles -- Them --
God keep His Oath to Sparrows --
Who of little Love -- know how to starve --
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?
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 --
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
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 --
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 --
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."
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?
698
Life -- is what we make of 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 --
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.