When I was dead, my spirit turned

   To seek the much-frequented house:

I passed the door, and saw my friends

   Feasting beneath the green orange boughs;

From hand to hand they pushed the wine,

   They sucked the pulp of plum and peach;

They sang, they jested, and they laughed,

   For each...

God is a distant — stately Lover —

Woos, as He states us — by His Son —

Verily, a Vicarious Courtship —

"Miles", and "Priscilla", were such an One —


But, lest the Soul — like fair "Priscilla"

Choose the Envoy — and spurn the Groom —

Vouches, with hyperbolic archness —

"Miles", and "John...

God made a little Gentian —

It tried — to be a Rose —

And failed — and all the Summer laughed —

But just before the Snows


There rose a Purple Creature —

That ravished all the Hill —

And Summer hid her Forehead —

And Mockery — was still —


The Frosts were her condition...

God permits industrious Angels —

Afternoons — to play —

I met one — forgot my Schoolmates —

All — for Him — straightway —

God calls home — the Angels — promptly —

At the Setting Sun —

I missed mine — how dreary — Marbles —

After playing Crown!