Emotions and Feelings

I cannot live with You (No. 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--

I cannot buy it—'tis not sold

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.

I can wade Grief

252

I can wade Grief-
Whole Pools of itI'm
used to that-
But the least push of Joy
Breaks up my feet-
And I tip-drunken-
Let no Pebble-smile'
Twas the New Liquor-
That was all!

Power is only Pain-
Stranded, thro' Discipline,
Till Weights-will hang-
Give Balm-to Giants-
And they'll wilt, like Men-
Give HimmalehThey'll
Carry-Him!

I can wade Grief

252

I can wade Grief-
Whole Pools of itI'm
used to that-
But the least push of Joy
Breaks up my feet-
And I tip-drunken-
Let no Pebble-smile'
Twas the New Liquor-
That was all!

Power is only Pain-
Stranded, thro' Discipline,
Till Weights-will hang-
Give Balm-to Giants-
And they'll wilt, like Men-
Give HimmalehThey'll
Carry-Him!

I can wade Grief

252

I can wade Grief-
Whole Pools of itI'm
used to that-
But the least push of Joy
Breaks up my feet-
And I tip-drunken-
Let no Pebble-smile'
Twas the New Liquor-
That was all!

Power is only Pain-
Stranded, thro' Discipline,
Till Weights-will hang-
Give Balm-to Giants-
And they'll wilt, like Men-
Give HimmalehThey'll
Carry-Him!

I bring an unaccustomed wine

132

I bring an unaccustomed wine
To lips long parching
Next to mine,
And summon them to drink;


Crackling with fever, they Essay,
I turn my brimming eyes away,
And come next hour to look.


The hands still hug the tardy glass-
The lips I would have cooled, alas-
Are so superfluous Cold-


I would as soon attempt to warm
The bosoms where the frost has lain
Ages beneath the mould-


Some other thirsty there may be
To whom this would have pointed me
Had it remained to speak-


And so I always bear the cup
If, haply, mine may be the drop
Some pilgrim thirst to slake-


If, haply, any say to me
"Unto the little, unto me,"
When I at last awake.

I bring an unaccustomed wine

132

I bring an unaccustomed wine
To lips long parching
Next to mine,
And summon them to drink;


Crackling with fever, they Essay,
I turn my brimming eyes away,
And come next hour to look.


The hands still hug the tardy glass-
The lips I would have cooled, alas-
Are so superfluous Cold-


I would as soon attempt to warm
The bosoms where the frost has lain
Ages beneath the mould-


Some other thirsty there may be
To whom this would have pointed me
Had it remained to speak-


And so I always bear the cup
If, haply, mine may be the drop
Some pilgrim thirst to slake-


If, haply, any say to me
"Unto the little, unto me,"
When I at last awake.

I asked no other thing

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?"

I am alive—I guess

470

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


The Carmine—tingles 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

How the Waters closed above Him

923

How the Waters closed above Him
We shall never know-
How He stretched His Anguish to us
That-is covered too-

Spreads the Pond Her Base of Lilies
Bold above the Boy
Whose unclaimed Hat and Jacket
Sum the History-

How sick—to wait—in any place—but thine

368

How sick—to wait—in any place—but thine—
I knew last night—when someone tried to twine—
Thinking—perhaps—that I looked tired—or alone—
Or breaking—almost—with unspoken pain—


And I turned—ducal—
That right—was thine—
One port—suffices—for a Brig—like mine—


Ours be the tossing—wild though the sea—
Rather than a Mooring—unshared by thee.
Ours be the Cargo—unladed—here—
Rather than the "spicy isles—"
And thou—not there—

How sick—to wait—in any place—but thine

368

How sick—to wait—in any place—but thine—
I knew last night—when someone tried to twine—
Thinking—perhaps—that I looked tired—or alone—
Or breaking—almost—with unspoken pain—


And I turned—ducal—
That right—was thine—
One port—suffices—for a Brig—like mine—


Ours be the tossing—wild though the sea—
Rather than a Mooring—unshared by thee.
Ours be the Cargo—unladed—here—
Rather than the "spicy isles—"
And thou—not there—

How many times these low feet staggered

187

How many times these low feet staggered-
Only the soldered mouth can tellTry-
can you stir the awful rivetTry-
can you lift the hasps of steel!

Stroke the cool forehead-hot so oftenLift-
if you care-the listless hair-
Handle the adamantine fingers
Never a thimble-more-shall wear-

Buzz the dull flies-on the chamber windowBrave-
shines the sun through the freckled paneFearless-
the cobweb swings from the ceiling-
Indolent Housewife-in Daisies-lain!

Houses—so the Wise Men tell me—

"Houses"—so the Wise Men tell me—
"Mansions"! Mansions must be warm!
Mansions cannot let the tears in,
Mansions must exclude the storm!


"Many Mansions," by "his Father,"
I don't know him; snugly built!
Could the Children find the way there—
Some, would even trudge tonight!

Home


Years I had been from home,
And now, before the door
I dared not open, lest a face
I never saw before


Stare vacant into mine
And ask my business there.
My business, - just a life I left,
Was such still dwelling there?


I fumbled at my nerve,
I scanned the windows near;
The silence like an ocean rolled,
And broke against my ear.


I laughed a wooden laugh
That I could fear a door,
Who danger and the dead had faced,
But never quaked before.


I fitted to the latch
My hand, with trembling care,
Lest back the awful door should spring,
And leave me standing there.


I moved my fingers off
As cautiously as glass,
And held my ears, and like a thief
Fled gasping from the house.

Home


Years I had been from home,
And now, before the door
I dared not open, lest a face
I never saw before


Stare vacant into mine
And ask my business there.
My business, - just a life I left,
Was such still dwelling there?


I fumbled at my nerve,
I scanned the windows near;
The silence like an ocean rolled,
And broke against my ear.


I laughed a wooden laugh
That I could fear a door,
Who danger and the dead had faced,
But never quaked before.


I fitted to the latch
My hand, with trembling care,
Lest back the awful door should spring,
And leave me standing there.


I moved my fingers off
As cautiously as glass,
And held my ears, and like a thief
Fled gasping from the house.

Heaven is what I cannot reach!

Heaven is what I cannot reach!
The apple on the tree,

Provided it do hopelss hang,
That 'heaven' is, to me.

The color on the cruising cloud,
The interdicted ground

Behind the hill, the house behind, -There
Paradise is found!

Heaven is what I cannot reach!

Heaven is what I cannot reach!
The apple on the tree,

Provided it do hopelss hang,
That 'heaven' is, to me.

The color on the cruising cloud,
The interdicted ground

Behind the hill, the house behind, -There
Paradise is found!

Heart! We will forget him!

47

Heart! We will forget him!
You and I-tonight!
You may forget the warmth he gave-
I will forget the light!


When you have done, pray tell me
That I may straight begin!
Haste! lest while you're lagging
I remember him!

Heart! We will forget him!

47

Heart! We will forget him!
You and I-tonight!
You may forget the warmth he gave-
I will forget the light!


When you have done, pray tell me
That I may straight begin!
Haste! lest while you're lagging
I remember him!

He told a homely tale

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 CitizenI've
ransomed it-alive-

He fumbles at your spirit

He fumbles at your spirit
As players at the keys
Before they drop full music on;
He stuns you by degrees,

Prepares your brittle substance
For the ethereal blow,
By fainter hammers, further heard,
Then nearer, then so slow

Your breath has time to straighten,
Your brain to bubble cool, --
Deals one imperial thunderbolt
That scalps your naked soul.

He fumbles at your spirit

He fumbles at your spirit
As players at the keys
Before they drop full music on;
He stuns you by degrees,

Prepares your brittle substance
For the ethereal blow,
By fainter hammers, further heard,
Then nearer, then so slow

Your breath has time to straighten,
Your brain to bubble cool, --
Deals one imperial thunderbolt
That scalps your naked soul.

Have any like Myself

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 Adobes-
So easy to the Sky


'Twould 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-