Emotions and Feelings

Doubt Me! My Dim Companion!

275

Doubt Me! My Dim Companion!
Why, God, would be content
With but a fraction of the Life-
Poured thee, without a stint-
The whole of me-forever-
What more the Woman can,
Say quick, that I may dower thee
With last Delight I own!

It cannot be my Spirit-
For that was thine, before-
I ceded all of Dust I knew-
What Opulence the more
Had I-a freckled Maiden,
Whose farthest of Degree,
Was-that she might-
Some distant Heaven,
Dwell timidly, with thee!

Sift her, from Brow to Barefoot!
Strain till your last Surmise-
Drop, like a Tapestry, away,
Before the Fire's Eyes-
Winnow her finest fondness-
But hallow just the snow
Intact, in Everlasting flake-
Oh, Caviler, for you!

Doubt Me! My Dim Companion!

275

Doubt Me! My Dim Companion!
Why, God, would be content
With but a fraction of the Life-
Poured thee, without a stint-
The whole of me-forever-
What more the Woman can,
Say quick, that I may dower thee
With last Delight I own!

It cannot be my Spirit-
For that was thine, before-
I ceded all of Dust I knew-
What Opulence the more
Had I-a freckled Maiden,
Whose farthest of Degree,
Was-that she might-
Some distant Heaven,
Dwell timidly, with thee!

Sift her, from Brow to Barefoot!
Strain till your last Surmise-
Drop, like a Tapestry, away,
Before the Fire's Eyes-
Winnow her finest fondness-
But hallow just the snow
Intact, in Everlasting flake-
Oh, Caviler, for you!

Don't put up my Thread and Needle

617

Don't put up my Thread and NeedleI'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 KnotTucks-
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 missedCloser-
so I-at my sleeping-
Still surmise I stitch-

Distrustful of the Gentian

20

Distrustful of the Gentian-
And just to turn away,
The fluttering of her fringes
Child my perfidy-
Weary for my-----
I will singing go-
I shall not feel the sleet-then-
I shall not fear the snow.

Flees so the phantom meadow
Before the breathless Bee-
So bubble brooks in deserts
On Ears that dying lie-
Burn so the Evening Spires
To Eyes that Closing go-
Hangs so distant Heaven-
To a hand below.

Distrustful of the Gentian

20

Distrustful of the Gentian-
And just to turn away,
The fluttering of her fringes
Child my perfidy-
Weary for my-----
I will singing go-
I shall not feel the sleet-then-
I shall not fear the snow.

Flees so the phantom meadow
Before the breathless Bee-
So bubble brooks in deserts
On Ears that dying lie-
Burn so the Evening Spires
To Eyes that Closing go-
Hangs so distant Heaven-
To a hand below.

Did Our Best Moment last

393

Did Our Best Moment last'
Twould supersede the Heaven-
A few-and they by Risk-procure-
So this Sort-are not given-

Except as stimulants-in
Cases of Despair-
Or Stupor-The Reserve-
These Heavenly Moments are-

A Grant of the Divine-
That Certain as it ComesWithdraws-
and leaves the dazzled Soul
In her unfurnished Rooms

Did Our Best Moment last

393

Did Our Best Moment last'
Twould supersede the Heaven-
A few-and they by Risk-procure-
So this Sort-are not given-

Except as stimulants-in
Cases of Despair-
Or Stupor-The Reserve-
These Heavenly Moments are-

A Grant of the Divine-
That Certain as it ComesWithdraws-
and leaves the dazzled Soul
In her unfurnished Rooms

Deprived of other Banquet

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-

Deprived of other Banquet

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-

Denial-is the only fact

965

Denial-is the only fact
Perceived by the Denied-
Whose Will-a numb significance-
The Day the Heaven died-

And all the Earth strove common round-
Without Delight, or Beam-
What Comfort was it Wisdom-was-
The spoiler of Our Home?

Denial-is the only fact

965

Denial-is the only fact
Perceived by the Denied-
Whose Will-a numb significance-
The Day the Heaven died-

And all the Earth strove common round-
Without Delight, or Beam-
What Comfort was it Wisdom-was-
The spoiler of Our Home?

Delight becomes pictorial

Delight becomes pictorial
When viewed through pain,--
More fair, because impossible
That any gain.


The mountaln at a given distance
In amber lies;
Approached, the amber flits a little,--
And that's the skies!

Death Leaves Us homesick, Who Behind

Death leaves Us homesick, who behind,
Except that it is gone
Are ignorant of its Concern
As if it were not born.


Through all their former Places, we
Like Individuals go
Who something lost, the seeking for
Is all that's left them, now—

Conscious am I in my Chamber

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-

Civilization-spurns-the Leopard!

492

Civilization-spurns-the Leopard!
Was the Leopard-bold?
Deserts-never rebuked her SatinEthiop-
her GoldTawny-
her Customs-
She was ConsciousSpotted-
her Dun Gown-
This was the Leopard's nature-SignorNeed-
a keeper-frown?

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

By a flower—By a letter

109

By a flower—By a letter—
By a nimble love—
If I weld the Rivet faster—
Final fast—above—


Never mind my breathless Anvil!
Never mind Repose!
Never mind the sooty faces
Tugging at the Forge!

By a flower—By a letter

109

By a flower—By a letter—
By a nimble love—
If I weld the Rivet faster—
Final fast—above—


Never mind my breathless Anvil!
Never mind Repose!
Never mind the sooty faces
Tugging at the Forge!

Bound-a trouble

269

Bound-a trouble-
And lives can bear it!
Limit-how deep a bleeding go!
So-many-drops-of vital scarlet-
Deal with the soul
As with Algebra!


Tell it the Ages-to a cypher-
And it will ache-contented-onSing-
at its pain-as any Workman-
Notching the fall of the Even Sun!

Bless God, he went as soldiers

147

Bless God, he went as soldiers,
His musket on his breast-
Grant God, he charge the bravest
Of all the martial blest!


Please God, might I behold him
In epauletted white-
I should not fear the foe then-
I should not fear the fight!

Better—than Music! For I—who heard it

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—


'Twasn'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—

Best Gains—must have the Losses' Test

684

Best Gains—must have the Losses' Test—
To constitute them—Gains—

Bereaved of all, I went abroad

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-

Besides the Autumn poets sing

131

Besides the Autumn poets sing
A few prosaic days
A little this side of the snow
And that side of the Haze-

A few incisive Mornings-
A few Ascetic EvesGone-
Mr. Bryant's "Golden Rod"-
And Mr. Thomson's "sheaves."

Still, is the bustle in the Brook-
Sealed are the spicy valves-
Mesmeric fingers softly touch
The Eyes of many Elves-

Perhaps a squirrel may remain-
My sentiments to share-
Grant me, Oh Lord, a sunny mind-
Thy windy will to bear!

Before I got my eye put out

327

Before I got my eye put out
I liked as well to see-
As other Creatures, that have Eyes
And know no other way-

But were it told to me-Today-
That I might have the sky
For mine-I tell you that my Heart
Would split, for size of me-

The Meadows-mine-
The Mountains-mine-
All Forests-Stintless Stars-
As much of Noon as I could take
Between my finite eyes-

The Motions of the Dipping Birds-
The Morning's Amber Road-
For mine-to look at when I liked-
The News would strike me dead-

So safer-guess-with just my soul
Upon the Window pane-
Where other Creatures put their eyesIncautious-
of the Sun-