Version 1 As if I asked a common alms - And in my wondering hand, A stranger pressed a kingdom - And I - bewildered stand - As if I asked the Orient Had it for me a morn? And it sh'd lift it's purple dikes And flood me with the Dawn!
Version 2 The "hand you stretch me in the Dark", I put mine in, and turn away - I have no Saxon, now - As if I asked a common Alms, And in my wondering hand A Stranger pressed a Kingdom, And I, bewildered, stand - As if I asked the Orient Had it for me a Morn - And it should lift its purple Dikes, And shatter Me with Dawn!
Version 3 Thank you for the Grave - empty and full - too - As if I asked a common Alms and in my wondering Hand A stranger pressed a Kingdom, and I bewildered stand, As if I asked the Orient had it for me a Morn, And it should lift it's purple Dikes, and shatter me with Dawn -
Version appearing in Thomas Johnson, Collected Poems
As if I asked a common Alms - And in my wondering hand A Stranger pressed a Kingdom, And I, bewildered, stand - As if I asked the Orient Had it for me a Morn - And it should lift its purple Dikes, And shatter Me with Dawn!