Life and Existence

The Court is far away

235

The Court is far away-
No Umpire-have I-
My Sovereign is offended-
To gain his grace-I'd die!

I'll seek his royal feetI'll
say-Remember-King-
Thou shalt-thyself-one day-a Child-
Implore a larger-thing-

That Empire-is of Czars-
As small-they say-as I-
Grant me-that day-the royalty-
To intercede-for Thee-

The Chemical conviction

954

The Chemical conviction
That Nought be lost
Enable in Disaster
My fractured Trust-

The Faces of the Atoms
If I shall see
How more the Finished Creatures
Departed me!

The Chemical conviction

954

The Chemical conviction
That Nought be lost
Enable in Disaster
My fractured Trust-

The Faces of the Atoms
If I shall see
How more the Finished Creatures
Departed me!

The bustle in a house

The bustle in a house
The morning after death
Is solemnest of industries
Enacted upon earth,-


The sweeping up the heart,
And putting love away
We shall not want to use again
Until eternity.

The bustle in a house

The bustle in a house
The morning after death
Is solemnest of industries
Enacted upon earth,-


The sweeping up the heart,
And putting love away
We shall not want to use again
Until eternity.

The Brain—is wider than the Sky

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—

The Brain-is wider than the Sky

632

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

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

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

The Birds begun at Four o'clock

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.

The Bible is an antique Volume

1545

The Bible is an antique Volume-
Written by faded men
At the suggestion of Holy SpectresSubjects-
BethlehemEden-
the ancient HomesteadSatan-
the BrigadierJudas-
the Great DefaulterDavid-
the TroubadorSin-
a distinguished Precipice
Others must resist-
Boys that "believe" are very lonesome-
Other Boys are "lost"-
Had but the Tale a warbling Teller-
All the Boys would come-
Orpheus' Sermon captivated-
It did not condemn-

The Bible is an antique Volume

1545

The Bible is an antique Volume-
Written by faded men
At the suggestion of Holy SpectresSubjects-
BethlehemEden-
the ancient HomesteadSatan-
the BrigadierJudas-
the Great DefaulterDavid-
the TroubadorSin-
a distinguished Precipice
Others must resist-
Boys that "believe" are very lonesome-
Other Boys are "lost"-
Had but the Tale a warbling Teller-
All the Boys would come-
Orpheus' Sermon captivated-
It did not condemn-

That is solemn we have ended

934

That is solemn we have ended
Be it but a Play
Or a Glee among the Garret
Or a Holiday


Or a leaving Home, or later,
Parting with a World
We have understood for better
Still to be explained.

That is solemn we have ended

934

That is solemn we have ended
Be it but a Play
Or a Glee among the Garret
Or a Holiday


Or a leaving Home, or later,
Parting with a World
We have understood for better
Still to be explained.

That is solemn we have ended

934

That is solemn we have ended
Be it but a Play
Or a Glee among the Garret
Or a Holiday


Or a leaving Home, or later,
Parting with a World
We have understood for better
Still to be explained.

That after Horror—that 'twas us

286

That after Horror—that 'twas us—
That passed the mouldering Pier—
Just as the Granite Crumb let go—
Our Savior, by a Hair—


A second more, had dropped too deep
For Fisherman to plumb—
The very profile of the Thought
Puts Recollection numb—


The possibility—to pass
Without a Moment's Bell—
Into Conjecture's presence—
Is like a Face of Steel—
That suddenly looks into ours
With a metallic grin—
The Cordiality of Death—
Who drills his Welcome in—

Teach Him—When He makes the names

227

Teach Him—When He makes the names—
Such an one—to say—
On his babbling—Berry—lips—
As should sound—to me—
Were my Ear—as near his nest—
As my thought—today—
As should sound—
"Forbid us not"—
Some like "Emily."

Taking up the fair Ideal

428

Taking up the fair Ideal,
Just to cast her down
When a fracture-we discover-
Or a splintered Crown-
Makes the Heavens portable-
And the Gods-a lieDoubtless-"
Adam"-scowled at Eden-
For his perjury!

Cherishing-our pool Ideal-
Till in purer dress-
We behold her-glorifiedComforts-
search-like this-
Till the broken creatures-
We adored-for wholeStains-
all washedTransfigured-
mended-
Meet us-with a smile-

T was just this time last year I died.

'T was just this time last year I died.
I know I heard the corn,

When I was carried by the farms,-It
had the tassels on.

I thought how yellow it would look
When Richard went to mill;

And then I wanted to get out,
But something held my will.

I thought just how red apples wedged
The stubble's joints between;

And carts went stooping round the fields
To take the pumpkins in.

I wondered which would miss me least,
And when Thanksgiving came,

If father'd multiply the plates
To make an even sum.

And if my stocking hung too high,
Would it blur the Christmas glee,

That not a Santa Claus could reach
The altitude of me?

But this sort grieved myself, and so
I thought how it would be

When just this time, some perfect year,
Themselves should come to me.

T was just this time last year I died.

'T was just this time last year I died.
I know I heard the corn,

When I was carried by the farms,-It
had the tassels on.

I thought how yellow it would look
When Richard went to mill;

And then I wanted to get out,
But something held my will.

I thought just how red apples wedged
The stubble's joints between;

And carts went stooping round the fields
To take the pumpkins in.

I wondered which would miss me least,
And when Thanksgiving came,

If father'd multiply the plates
To make an even sum.

And if my stocking hung too high,
Would it blur the Christmas glee,

That not a Santa Claus could reach
The altitude of me?

But this sort grieved myself, and so
I thought how it would be

When just this time, some perfect year,
Themselves should come to me.

Sweet, to have had them lost

901

Sweet, to have had them lost
For news that they be saved-
The nearer they departed Us
The nearer they, restored,

Shall stand to Our Right Hand-
Most precious and the Dead-
Next precious
Those that rose to go-
Then thought of Us, and stayed.

Sweet, to have had them lost

901

Sweet, to have had them lost
For news that they be saved-
The nearer they departed Us
The nearer they, restored,

Shall stand to Our Right Hand-
Most precious and the Dead-
Next precious
Those that rose to go-
Then thought of Us, and stayed.

Suspense—is Hostiler than Death

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—

Sweet-safe-Houses


457

Sweet-safe-HousesGlad-
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 TreasuresAnguish-
and the Tomb-

Hum by-in Muffled Coaches-
Lest they-wonder WhyAny-
for the Press of SmilingInterrupt-
to die-

Superfluous were the Sun

999

Superfluous were the Sun
When Excellence be dead
He were superfluous every Day
For every Day be said

That syllable whose Faith
Just saves it from Despair
And whose "I'll meet You" hesitates
If Love inquire "Where"?

Upon His dateless Fame
Our Periods may lie
As Stars that drop anonymous
From an abundant sky.

Struck, was I, not yet by Lightning

925

Struck, was I, not yet by LightningLightning-
lets away
Power to perceive His Process
With Vitality.

Maimed-was I-yet not by Venture-
Stone of stolid Boy-
Nor a Sportsman's Peradventure-
Who mine Enemy?

Robbed-was I-intact to Bandit-
All my Mansion tornSun-
withdrawn to Recognition-
Furthest shining-done-

Yet was not the foe-of any-
Not the smallest Bird
In the nearest Orchard dwelling
Be of Me-afraid.

Most-I love the Cause that slew Me.
Often as I die
Its beloved Recognition
Holds a Sun on Me


Best-at Setting-as is Nature's-
Neither witnessed Rise
Till the infinite Aurora
In the other's eyes.