I keep my pledge.
I was not called —
Death did not notice me.
I bring my Rose.
I plight again,
By every sainted Bee —
By Daisy called from hillside —
by Bobolink from lane.
Blossom and I —
Her oath, and mine —
Will surely come again.
-
-
I knew that I had gained
And yet I knew not how
By Diminution it was not
But Discipline unto
A Rigor unrelieved
Except by the Content
Another bear its Duplicate
In other Continent. -
I know a place where Summer strives
With such a practised Frost —
She — each year — leads her Daisies back —
Recording briefly — "Lost" —
But when the South Wind stirs the Pools
And struggles in the lanes —
Her Heart misgives Her, for Her Vow —
And she pours soft Refrains
...I know lives, I could miss
Without a Misery —
Others — whose instant's wanting —
Would be Eternity —
The last — a scanty Number —
'Twould scarcely fill a Two —
The first — a Gnat's Horizon
Could easily outgrow —I know of people in the Grave
Who would be very glad
To know the news I know tonight
If they the chance had had.
'Tis this expands the least event
And swells the scantest deed —
My right to walk upon the Earth
If they this moment had.I know some lonely Houses off the Road
A Robber'd like the look of —
Wooden barred,
And Windows hanging low,
Inviting to —
A Portico,
Where two could creep —
One — hand the Tools —
The other peep —
To make sure All's Asleep —
Old fashioned eyes —
...I know Suspense — it steps so terse
And turns so weak away —
Besides — Suspense is neighborly
When I am riding by —
Is always at the Window
Though lately I descry
And mention to my Horses
The need is not of me —I know that He exists.
Somewhere — in Silence —
He has hid his rare life
From our gross eyes.
'Tis an instant's play.
'Tis a fond Ambush —
Just to make Bliss
Earn her own surprise!
But — should the play
Prove piercing earnest —
Should the glee...I know where Wells grow — Droughtless Wells —
Deep dug — for Summer days —
Where Mosses go no more away —
And Pebble — safely plays —
It's made of Fathoms — and a Belt —
A Belt of jagged Stone —
Inlaid with Emerald — half way down —
And Diamonds — jumbled on —
It has...(The original text)
* * *
I laid me down upon a bank
Where love lay sleeping
I heard among the rushes dank
Weeping Weeping
5Then I went to the heath & the wild
To...