He preached upon "Breadth" till it argued him narrow —
The Broad are too broad to define
And of "Truth" until it proclaimed him a Liar —
The Truth never flaunted a Sign —
Simplicity fled from his counterfeit presence
As Gold the Pyrites would shun —
What confusion would cover the innocent Jesus...
Step lightly on this narrow spot —
The broadest Land that grows
Is not so ample as the Breast
These Emerald Seams enclose.
Step lofty, for this name be told
As far as Cannon dwell
Or Flag subsist or Fame export
Her deathless Syllable.
The Heart has narrow Banks
It measures like the Sea
In mighty — unremitting Bass
And Blue Monotony
Till Hurricane bisect
And as itself discerns
Its insufficient Area
The Heart convulsive learns
That Calm is but a Wall
Of unattempted Gauze
An...
Till Death — is narrow Loving —
The scantest Heart extant
Will hold you till your privilege
Of Finiteness — be spent —
But He whose loss procures you
Such Destitution that
Your Life too abject for itself
Thenceforward imitate —
Until — Resemblance perfect —
...
You're right — "the way is narrow" —
And "difficult the Gate" —
And "few there be" — Correct again —
That "enter in — thereat" —
'Tis Costly — So are purples!
'Tis just the price of Breath —
With but the "Discount" of the Grave —
Termed by the Brokers — "Death"!
And...