• Every One to His Own Way

    Oak leaves are big as the mouse’s ear,
    So, farmer, go plant. But the frost—
    Beware! the witch o’ the year,
    See that her palm be crossed.
    The bee is abroad, and the ant;
    Spider is busy; ho, farmer, go plant.

    The winds blow soft from the glazy sea,
    So, merchant, rig ship. But the wave—
    Beware! salt water can be
    A highway,...

    John Vance Cheney

  • The Cripple every Step Drudges & labours

     
    * * *


    The Cripple every Step Drudges & labours

    And says come learn to walk of me Good Neighbours

    Sir Joshua in astonishment cries out

    See what Great Labour Pain him & Modest Doubt
    5 Newton &...

  • For every Bird a Nest —

    For every Bird a Nest —

    Wherefore in timid quest

    Some little Wren goes seeking round —


    Wherefore when boughs are free —

    Households in every tree —

    Pilgrim be found?


    Perhaps a home too high —

    Ah Aristocracy!

    The little Wren desires —


    Perhaps of twig so...

  • God gave a Loaf to every Bird —

    God gave a Loaf to every Bird —

    But just a Crumb — to Me —

    I dare not eat it — tho' I starve —

    My poignant luxury —


    To own it — touch it —

    Prove the feat — that made the Pellet mine —

    Too happy — for my Sparrow's chance —

    For Ampler Coveting —


    It might be Famine — all...

  • I bet with every Wind that blew

    I bet with every Wind that blew

    Till Nature in chagrin

    Employed a Fact to visit me

    And scuttle my Balloon —

  • I found the words to every thought

    I found the words to every thought

    I ever had — but One —

    And that — defies me —

    As a Hand did try to chalk the Sun


    To Races — nurtured in the Dark —

    How would your own — begin?

    Can Blaze be shown in Cochineal —

    Or Noon — in Mazarin?

  • I measure every Grief I meet

    I measure every Grief I meet

    With narrow, probing, Eyes —

    I wonder if It weighs like Mine —

    Or has an Easier size.


    I wonder if They bore it long —

    Or did it just begin —

    I could not tell the Date of Mine —

    It feels so old a pain —


    I wonder if it hurts to live —
    ...

  • I'm saying every day

    I'm saying every day

    "If I should be a Queen, tomorrow" —

    I'd do this way —

    And so I deck, a little,


    If it be, I wake a Bourbon,

    None on me, bend supercilious —

    With "This was she —

    Begged in the Market place —

    Yesterday."


    Court is a stately place —
    ...

  • It struck me — every Day —

    It struck me — every Day —

    The Lightning was as new

    As if the Cloud that instant slit

    And let the Fire through —


    It burned Me — in the Night —

    It Blistered to My Dream —

    It sickened fresh upon my sight —

    With every Morn that came —


    I though that Storm — was brief —...

  • Two Lengths has every Day —

    Two Lengths has every Day —

    Its absolute extent

    And Area superior

    By Hope or Horror lent —


    Eternity will be

    Velocity or Pause

    At Fundamental Signals

    From Fundamental Laws.


    To die is not to go —

    On Doom's consummate Chart

    No Territory new is...