Life and Existence

What did They do since I saw Them?

900

What did They do since I saw Them?
Were They industrious?
So many questions to put Them
Have I the eagerness


That could I snatch Their Faces
That could Their lips reply
Not till the last was answered
Should They start for the Sky.


Not if Their Party were waiting,
Not if to talk with Me
Were to Them now, Homesickness
After Eternity.


Not if the Just suspect me
And offer a Reward
Would I restore my Booty
To that Bold Person, God-

We play at paste,

We play at paste,
Till qualified for pearl,
Then drop the paste,
And deem ourself a fool.
The shapes, though, were similar,
And our new hands
Learned gem-tactics
Practising sands.

We play at paste,

We play at paste,
Till qualified for pearl,
Then drop the paste,
And deem ourself a fool.
The shapes, though, were similar,
And our new hands
Learned gem-tactics
Practising sands.

We talked as Girls do

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.

We miss Her, not because We see

993

We miss Her, not because We see-
The Absence of an Eye-
Except its Mind accompany
Abridge Society

As slightly as the Routes of StarsOurselves-
asleep below-
We know that their superior Eyes
Include Us-as they go-

We miss Her, not because We see

993

We miss Her, not because We see-
The Absence of an Eye-
Except its Mind accompany
Abridge Society

As slightly as the Routes of StarsOurselves-
asleep below-
We know that their superior Eyes
Include Us-as they go-

We lose—because we win

21

We lose—because we win—
Gamblers—recollecting which
Toss their dice again!

We lose—because we win

21

We lose—because we win—
Gamblers—recollecting which
Toss their dice again!

We learned the Whole of Love

568

We learned the Whole of Love-
The Alphabet-the Words-
A Chapter-then the mighty BookThen-
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!

We can but follow to the Sun

920

We can but follow to the Sun-
As oft as He go down
He leave Ourselves a Sphere behind'
Tis mostly-following-

We go no further with the Dust
Than to the Earthen Door-
And then the Panels are reversed-
And we behold-no more.

We can but follow to the Sun

920

We can but follow to the Sun-
As oft as He go down
He leave Ourselves a Sphere behind'
Tis mostly-following-

We go no further with the Dust
Than to the Earthen Door-
And then the Panels are reversed-
And we behold-no more.

We do not play on Graves

467

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

And put a Flower on it-
And hang their faces soWe'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-

Wait till the Majesty of Death

171

Wait till the Majesty of Death
Invests so mean a brow!
Almost a powdered Footman
Might dare to touch it now!


Wait till in Everlasting Robes
That Democrat is dressed,
Then prate about "Preferment"-
And "Station," and the rest!


Around this quiet Courtier
Obsequious Angels wait!
Full royal is his Retinue!
Full purple is his state!


A Lord, might dare to lift the Hat
To such a Modest Clay
Since that My Lord, "the Lord of Lords"
Receives unblushingly!

Upon Concluded Lives

735

Upon Concluded Lives
There's nothing cooler falls-
Than Life's sweet Calculations-
The mixing Bells and Palls-

Make Lacerating Tune-
To Ears the Dying Side'
Tis Coronal-and FuneralSaluting-
in the Road-

Upon Concluded Lives

735

Upon Concluded Lives
There's nothing cooler falls-
Than Life's sweet Calculations-
The mixing Bells and Palls-

Make Lacerating Tune-
To Ears the Dying Side'
Tis Coronal-and FuneralSaluting-
in the Road-

Unit, like Death, for Whom?

408

Unit, like Death, for Whom?
True, like the Tomb,
Who tells no secret
Told to Him-
The Grave is strict-
Tickets admit
Just two-the Bearer-
And the Borne-
And seat-just One-
The Living-tell-
The Dying-but a Syllable-
The Coy Dead-None-
No Chatter-here-no tea-
So Babbler, and Bohea-stay there-
But Gravity-and Expectation-and Fear-
A tremor just, that All's not sure.

Unto Me? I do not know you—

"Unto Me?" I do not know you—
Where may be your House?


"I am Jesus—Late of Judea—
Now—of Paradise"—


Wagons—have you—to convey me?
This is far from Thence—


"Arms of Mine—sufficient Phaeton—
Trust Omnipotence"—


I am spotted—"I am Pardon"—
I am small—"The Least
Is esteemed in Heaven the Chiefest—
Occupy my House"—

Uncertain lease—develops lustre

857

Uncertain lease—develops lustre
On Time
Uncertain Grasp, appreciation
Of Sum—

The shorter Fate—is oftener the chiefest
Because
Inheritors upon a tenure
Prize—

Uncertain lease—develops lustre

857

Uncertain lease—develops lustre
On Time
Uncertain Grasp, appreciation
Of Sum—

The shorter Fate—is oftener the chiefest
Because
Inheritors upon a tenure
Prize—

Two Travellers perishing in Snow

933

Two Travellers perishing in Snow
The Forests as they froze
Together heard them strengthening
Each other with the words

That Heaven if Heaven-must contain
What Either left behind
And then the cheer too solemn grew
For language, and the wind

Long steps across the features took
That Love had touched the Morn
With reverential Hyacinth-
The taleless Days went on

Till Mystery impatient drew
And those They left behind
Led absent, were procured of Heaven
As Those first furnished, said-

Two Travellers perishing in Snow

933

Two Travellers perishing in Snow
The Forests as they froze
Together heard them strengthening
Each other with the words

That Heaven if Heaven-must contain
What Either left behind
And then the cheer too solemn grew
For language, and the wind

Long steps across the features took
That Love had touched the Morn
With reverential Hyacinth-
The taleless Days went on

Till Mystery impatient drew
And those They left behind
Led absent, were procured of Heaven
As Those first furnished, said-

Two—were immortal twice

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.

'Twas warm—at first—like Us

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.

Truth—is as old as God

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.