Society and the World

When I was small, a Woman died

596

When I was small, a Woman diedToday-
her Only Boy
Went up from the Potomac-
His face all Victory

To look at her-How slowly
The Seasons must have turned
Till Bullets clipt an Angle
And He passed quickly round-

If pride shall be in Paradise-
Ourself cannot decide-
Of their imperial Conduct-
No person testified-

But, proud in Apparition-
That Woman and her Boy
Pass back and forth, before my Brain
As even in the sky


I'm confident that Bravoes-
Perpetual break abroad
For Braveries, remote as this
In Scarlet Maryland-

What would I give to see his face?

247

What would I give to see his face?
I'd give-I'd give my life-of course-
But that is not enough!
Stop just a minute-let me think!
I'd give my biggest Bobolink!
That makes two-Him-and Life!
You know who "June" isI'd
give her-
Roses a day from Zanzibar-
And Lily tubes-like WellsBees-
by the furlong-
Straits of Blue
Navies of Butterflies-sailed thro'-
And dappled Cowslip Dells-


Then I have "shares" in Primrose "Banks"-
Daffodil Dowries-spicy "Stocks"Dominions-
broad as Dew-
Bags of Doublons-adventurous Bees
Brought me-from firmamental seas-
And Purple-from Peru


Now-have I bought it"
Shylock"? Say!
Sign me the Bond!
"I vow to pay
To Her-who pledges this-
One hour-of her Sovereign's face"!
Ecstatic Contract!
Niggard Grace!
My Kingdom's worth of Bliss!

When Diamonds are a Legend

397

When Diamonds are a Legend,
And Diadems-a Tale-
I Brooch and Earrings for Myself,
Do sow, and Raise for sale-


And tho' I'm scarce accounted,
My Art, a Summer Day-had PatronsOnce-
it was a Queen-
And once-a Butterfly-

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-

What if I say I shall not wait!

277

What if I say I shall not wait!
What if I burst the fleshly Gate-
And pass escaped-to thee!

What if I file this Mortal-off-
See where it hurt me-That's enough-
And wade in Liberty!

They cannot take me-any more!
Dungeons can call-and Guns implore
Unmeaning-now-to me-

As laughter-was-an hour ago-
Or Laces-or a Travelling Show-
Or who died-yesterday!

Wert Thou but ill—that I might show thee

961

Wert Thou but ill—that I might show thee
How long a Day I could endure
Though thine attention stop not on me
Nor the least signal, Me assure—


Wert Thou but Stranger in ungracious country—
And Mine—the Door
Thou paused at, for a passing bounty—
No More—


Accused—wert Thou—and Myself—Tribunal—
Convicted—Sentenced—Ermine—not to Me
Half the Condition, thy Reverse—to follow—
Just to partake—the infamy—


The Tenant of the Narrow Cottage, wert Thou—
Permit to be
The Housewife in thy low attendance
Contenteth Me—


No Service hast Thou, I would not achieve it—
To die—or live—
The first—Sweet, proved I, ere I saw thee—
For Life—be Love—

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.

To put this World down, like a Bundle

527

To put this World down, like a Bundle-
And walk steady, away,
Requires Energy-possibly Agony'
Tis the Scarlet way

Trodden with straight renunciation
By the Son of God-
Later, his faint Confederates
Justify the Road-

Flavors of that old Crucifixion-
Filaments of Bloom, Pontius Pilate sowed-
Strong Clusters, from Barabbas' Tomb-

Sacrament, Saints partook before us-
Patent, every drop,
With the Brand of the Gentile Drinker
Who indorsed the Cup-

To fight aloud, is very brave

126

To fight aloud, is very brave-
But gallanter, I know
Who charge within the bosom
The Cavalry of Woe-

Who win, and nations do not see-
Who fall-and none observe-
Whose dying eyes, no Country
Regards with patriot love-

We trust, in plumed procession
For such, the Angels go-
Rank after Rank, with even feet-
And Uniforms of Snow.

To fight aloud, is very brave

126

To fight aloud, is very brave-
But gallanter, I know
Who charge within the bosom
The Cavalry of Woe-

Who win, and nations do not see-
Who fall-and none observe-
Whose dying eyes, no Country
Regards with patriot love-

We trust, in plumed procession
For such, the Angels go-
Rank after Rank, with even feet-
And Uniforms of Snow.

'Tis true—They shut me in the Cold

538

'Tis true—They shut me in the Cold—
But then—Themselves were warm
And could not know the feeling 'twas—
Forget it—Lord—of Them—


Let not my Witness hinder Them
In Heavenly esteem—
No Paradise could be—Conferred
Through Their beloved Blame—


The Harm They did—was short—And since
Myself—who bore it—do—
Forgive Them—Even as Myself—
Or else—forgive not me—

Through the strait pass of suffering

792

Through the strait pass of suffering-
The Martyrs-even-trod.
Their feet-upon Temptations-
Their faces-upon God-

A stately-shriven-CompanyConvulsion-
playing roundHarmless-
as streaks of Meteor-
Upon a Planet's Bond-

Their faith-the everlasting troth-
Their Expectation-fair-
The Needle-to the North DegreeWades-
so-thro' polar Air!

This-is the land-the Sunset washes

266

This-is the land-the Sunset washesThese-
are the Banks of the Yellow Sea-
Where it rose-or whither it rushesThese-
are the Western Mystery!

Night after Night
Her purple traffic
Strews the landing with Opal BalesMerchantmen-
poise upon HorizonsDip-
and vanish like Orioles!

They put Us far apart

474

They put Us far apart-
As separate as Sea
And Her unsown Peninsula-
We signified "These see"-

They took away our Eyes-
They thwarted Us with Guns"
I see Thee" each responded straight
Through Telegraphic Signs-

With Dungeons-They devised-
But through their thickest skill-
And their opaquest Adamant-
Our Souls saw-just as well-

They summoned Us to die-
With sweet alacrity
We stood upon our stapled feetCondemned-
but just-to see-

Permission to recant-
Permission to forget-
We turned our backs upon the Sun
For perjury of that-

Not Either-noticed Death-
Of Paradise-aware-
Each other's Face-was all the Disc
Each other's setting-saw-

They put Us far apart

474

They put Us far apart-
As separate as Sea
And Her unsown Peninsula-
We signified "These see"-

They took away our Eyes-
They thwarted Us with Guns"
I see Thee" each responded straight
Through Telegraphic Signs-

With Dungeons-They devised-
But through their thickest skill-
And their opaquest Adamant-
Our Souls saw-just as well-

They summoned Us to die-
With sweet alacrity
We stood upon our stapled feetCondemned-
but just-to see-

Permission to recant-
Permission to forget-
We turned our backs upon the Sun
For perjury of that-

Not Either-noticed Death-
Of Paradise-aware-
Each other's Face-was all the Disc
Each other's setting-saw-

They Shut Me Up in Prose

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 --

'They Have Not Chosen Me,' He Said

'They have not chosen me,' he said,
'But I have chosen them!'
Brave—Broken hearted statement—
Uttered in Bethlehem!

I could not have told it,
But since Jesus dared—
Sovereign! Know a Daisy
They dishonor shared!

There is a word

8

There is a word
Which bears a sword
Can pierce an armed man-
It hurls its barbed syllables
And is mute again-
But where it fell
The saved will tell
On patriotic day,
Some epauletted Brother
Gave his breath away.


Wherever runs the breathless sun-
Wherever roams the day-
There is its noiseless onset-
There is its victory!
Behold the keenest marksman!
The most accomplished shot!
Time's sublimest target
Is a soul "forgot!"

There is a word

8

There is a word
Which bears a sword
Can pierce an armed man-
It hurls its barbed syllables
And is mute again-
But where it fell
The saved will tell
On patriotic day,
Some epauletted Brother
Gave his breath away.


Wherever runs the breathless sun-
Wherever roams the day-
There is its noiseless onset-
There is its victory!
Behold the keenest marksman!
The most accomplished shot!
Time's sublimest target
Is a soul "forgot!"

The Zeroes—taught us—Phosphorous

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!

The Whole of it came not at once

762

The Whole of it came not at once'
Twas Murder by degrees-
A Thrust-and then for Life a chance-
The Bliss to cauterize-

The Cat reprieves the Mouse
She eases from her teeth
Just long enough for Hope to tease-
Then mashes it to death


'Tis Life's award-to die-
Contenteder if once-
Than dying half-then rallying
For consciouser Eclipse-

The Soul has Bandaged moments

512

The Soul has Bandaged moments-
When too appalled to stir-
She feels some ghastly Fright come up
And stop to look at her-


Salute her-with long fingers-
Caress her freezing hair-
Sip, Goblin, from the very lips
The Lover-hovered-o'er-
Unworthy, that a thought so mean
Accost a Theme-so-fair-


The soul has moments of Escape-
When bursting all the doors-
She dances like a Bomb, abroad,
And swings upon the Hours,


As do the Bee-delirious borne-
Long Dungeoned from his Rose-
Touch Liberty-then know no more,
But Noon, and Paradise-


The Soul's retaken moments-
When, Felon led along,
With shackles on the plumed feet,
And staples, in the Song,


The Horror welcomes her, again,
These, are not brayed of Tongue-

The Skies can't keep their secret!

191

The Skies can't keep their secret!
They tell it to the Hills-
The Hills just tell the Orchards-
And they-the Daffodils!


A Bird-by chance-that goes that way-
Soft overhears the whole-
If I should bribe the little Bird-
Who knows but she would tell?


I think I won't-howeverIt's
finer-not to know-
If Summer were an Axiom-
What sorcery had Snow?


So keep your secret-Father!
I would not-if I could,
Know what the Sapphire Fellows, do,
In your new-fashioned world!

The Service without Hope

779

The Service without Hope-
Is tenderest, I think-
Because 'tis unsustained
By stint-Rewarded Work-

Has impetus of Gain-
And impetus of Goal-
There is no Diligence like that
That knows not an Until-