Others

Must be a Woe

571

Must be a Woe-
A loss or so-
To bend the eye
Best Beauty's way


But-once aslant
It notes Delight
As difficult
As Stalactite

A Common Bliss
Were had for less-
The price-is
Even as the Grace-

Our lord-thought no
Extravagance
To pay-a Cross-

Morns like these—we parted

27

Morns like these—we parted—
Noons like these—she rose—
Fluttering first—then firmer
To her fair repose.


Never did she lisp it—
It was not for me—
She—was mute from transport—
I—from agony—


Till—the evening nearing
One the curtains drew—
Quick! A Sharper rustling!
And this linnet flew!

Mine—by the Right of the White Election!

528

Mine—by the Right of the White Election!
Mine—by the Royal Seal!
Mine—by the Sign in the Scarlet prison—
Bars—cannot conceal!


Mine—here—in Vision—and in Veto!
Mine—by the Grave's Repeal—
Tilted—Confirmed—
Delirious Charter!
Mine—long as Ages steal!

Me prove it now—Whoever doubt

537

Me prove it now—Whoever doubt
Me stop to prove it—now—
Make haste—the Scruple! Death be scant
For Opportunity—


The River reaches to my feet—
As yet—My Heart be dry—
Oh Lover—Life could not convince—
Might Death—enable Thee—


The River reaches to My Breast—
Still—still—My Hands above
Proclaim with their remaining Might—
Dost recognize the Love?


The River reaches to my Mouth—
Remember—when the Sea
Swept by my searching eyes—the last—
Themselves were quick—with Thee!

Mama never forgets her birds

164

Mama never forgets her birds,
Though in another tree-
She looks down just as often
And just as tenderly
As when her little mortal nest
With cunning care she wove-
If either of her "sparrows fall,"
She "notices," above.

Love—is that Later Thing than Death

Love—is that later Thing than Death—
More previous—than Life—
Confirms it at its entrance—And
Usurps it—of itself—


Tastes Death—the first—to hand the sting
The Second—to its friend—
Disarms the little interval—
Deposits Him with God—


Then hovers—an inferior Guard—
Lest this Beloved Charge
Need—once in an Eternity—
A smaller than the Large—

Like eyes that looked on Wastes

458

Like eyes that looked on Wastes-
Incredulous of Ought
But Blank-and steady Wilderness-
Diversified by Night-

Just Infinites of Nought-
As far as it could see-
So looked the face I looked upon-
So looked itself-on Me-

I offered it no Help-
Because the Cause was Mine-
The Misery a Compact
As hopeless-as divine


Neither-would be absolved-
Neither would be a Queen
Without the Other-Therefore-
We perish-tho' We reign-

Like her the Saints retire

60

Like her the Saints retire,
In their Chapeaux of fire,
Martial as she!

Like her the Evenings steal
Purple and Cochineal
After the Day!

"Departed"-both-they say!

i.e. gathered away,
Not found,
Argues the Aster still-
Reasons the Daffodil
Profound!

Life—is what we make of it

698

Life—is what we make of it—
Death—we do not know—
Christ's acquaintance with Him
Justify Him—though—


He—would trust no stranger—
Other—could betray—
Just His own endorsement—
That—sufficeth Me—


All the other Distance
He hath traversed first—
No New Mile remaineth—
Far as Paradise—


His sure foot preceding—
Tender Pioneer—
Base must be the Coward
Dare not venture—now—

Just lost, when I was saved!

160

Just lost, when I was saved!
Just felt the world go by!
Just girt me for the onset with Eternity,
When breath blew back,
And on the other side
I heard recede the disappointed tide!


Therefore, as One returned, I feel
Odd secrets of the line to tell!
Some Sailor, skirting foreign shores-
Some pale Reporter, from the awful doors
Before the Seal!


Next time, to stay!
Next time, the things to see
By Ear unheard,
Unscrutinized by Eye-


Next time, to tarry,
While the Ages steal-
Slow tramp the Centuries,
And the Cycles wheel!

Knows how to forget!

433

Knows how to forget!
But could It teach it?
Easiest of Arts, they say
When one learn how


Dull Hearts have died
In the Acquisition
Sacrificed for Science
Is common, though, now-


I went to School
But was not wiser
Globe did not teach it
Nor Logarithm Show


"How to forget"!
Say-some-Philosopher!
Ah, to be erudite
Enough to know!


Is it in a Book?
So, I could buy it-
Is it like a Planet?
Telescopes would know-


If it be invention
It must have a Patent.
Rabbi of the Wise Book
Don't you know?

Joy to have merited the Pain

788

Joy to have merited the Pain-
To merit the Release-
Joy to have perished every step-
To Compass Paradise


Pardon-to look upon thy face-
With these old fashioned Eyes-
Better than new-could be-for that-
Though bought in Paradise-

Because they looked on thee before-
And thou hast looked on them-
Prove Me-My Hazel Witnesses
The features are the same-

So fleet thou wert, when present-
So infinite-when gone-
An Orient's Apparition-
Remanded of the Morn-

The Height I recollect'
Twas even with the Hills-
The Depth upon my Soul was notched-
As Floods-on Whites of Wheels-

To Haunt-till Time have dropped
His last Decade away,
And Haunting actualize-to last
At least-Eternity-

I've seen a Dying Eye

547

I've seen a Dying Eye
Run round and round a Room-
In search of Something-as it seemed-
Then Cloudier become-
And then-obscure with Fog-
And then-be soldered down
Without disclosing what it be
'Twere blessed to have seen-

I've heard an Organ talk, sometimes

183

I've heard an Organ talk, sometimes
In a Cathedral Aisle,
And understood no word it said-
Yet held my breath, the while-


And risen up-and gone away,
A more Berdardine GirlYet-
know not what was done to me
In that old Chapel Aisle.

I've heard an Organ talk, sometimes

183

I've heard an Organ talk, sometimes
In a Cathedral Aisle,
And understood no word it said-
Yet held my breath, the while-


And risen up-and gone away,
A more Berdardine GirlYet-
know not what was done to me
In that old Chapel Aisle.

I've heard an Organ talk, sometimes

183

I've heard an Organ talk, sometimes
In a Cathedral Aisle,
And understood no word it said-
Yet held my breath, the while-


And risen up-and gone away,
A more Berdardine GirlYet-
know not what was done to me
In that old Chapel Aisle.

I've none to tell me to but Thee

881

I've none to tell me to but Thee
So when Thou failest, nobody.
It was a little tie-
It just held Two, nor those it held
Since Somewhere thy sweet Face has spilled
Beyond my Boundary-

If things were opposite-and Me
And Me it were-that ebbed from Thee
On some unanswering ShoreWould'st
Thou seek so-just say
That I the Answer may pursue
Unto the lips it eddied throughSo-
overtaking Thee-

It's such a little thing to weep

189

It's such a little thing to weep-
So short a thing to sigh-
And yet-by Trades-the size of these
We men and women die!

It's all I have to bring today

26

It's all I have to bring today-
This, and my heart beside-
This, and my heart, and all the fields-
And all the meadows wide-
Be sure you count-should I forget
Some one the sum could tell-
This, and my heart, and all the Bees
Which in the Clover dwell.

It was too late for Man

623

It was too late for Man-
But early, yet, for GodCreation-
impotent to help-
But Prayer-remained-Our Side-

How excellent the Heaven-
When Earth-cannot be had-
How hospitable-then-the face
Of our Old Neighbor-God-

It troubled me as once I was

600

It troubled me as once I was-
For I was once a Child-
Concluding how an Atom-fell-
And yet the Heavens-held-

The Heavens weighed the most-by far-
Yet Blue-and solid-stood-
Without a Bolt-that I could prove-
Would Giants-understand?

Life set me larger-problems-
Some I shall keep-to solve
Till Algebra is easier-
Or simpler proved-above


Then-too-be comprehended-
What sorer-puzzled me-
Why Heaven did not break away-
And tumble-Blue-on me-

It knew no Medicine

559

It knew no Medicine-
It was not Sickness-then-
Nor any need of Surgery-
And therefore-'twas not Pain-

It moved away the Cheeks-
A Dimple at a time-
And left the Profile-plainer-
And in the place of Bloom

It left the little Tint
That never had a NameYou've
seen it on a Cast's face-
Was Paradise-to blame-

If momently ajarTemerity-
drew near-
And sickened-ever afterward
For Somewhat that it saw?

It might be lonelier

405

It might be lonelier
Without the LonelinessI'm
so accustomed to my Fate-
Perhaps the Other-Peace-

Would interrupt the Dark-
And crowd the little Room-
Too scant-by Cubits-to contain
The Sacrament-of Him-

I am not used to Hope-
It might intrude upon-
Its sweet parade-blaspheme the place-
Ordained to Suffering-

It might be easier
To fail-with Land in Sight-
Than gain-My Blue Peninsula-
To perish-of Delight-

It is a lonesome Glee

774

It is a lonesome Glee-
Yet sanctifies the Mind-
With fair association-
Afar upon the Wind

A Bird to overhear
Delight without a Cause-
Arrestless as invisible-
A matter of the Skies.