THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT
I
Pain has but one Acquaintance
And that is Death —
Each one unto the other
Society enough.
Pain is the Junior Party
By just a Second's right —
Death tenderly assists Him
And then absconds from Sight.
Pain — expands the Time —
Ages coil within
The minute Circumference
Of a single Brain —
Pain contracts — the Time —
Occupied with Shot
Gamuts of Eternities
Are as they were not —
Pain — has an Element of Blank —
It cannot recollect
When it begun — or if there were
A time when it was not —
It has no Future — but itself —
Its Infinite realms contain
Its Past — enlightened to perceive
New Periods — of Pain.
There's nothing here sublime,
But just a roving rhyme,
Run off to pass the time,
With nought titanic in.
The theme that it supports,
And, though it treats of quarts,
It's bare of golden thoughts --
It's just a pannikin.
I think it's rather hard
That each...
Papa above!
Regard a Mouse
O'erpowered by the Cat!
Reserve within thy kingdom
A "Mansion" for the Rat!
Snug in seraphic Cupboards
To nibble all the day
While unsuspecting Cycles
Wheel solemnly away!
Paradise is of the option.
Whosoever will
Own in Eden notwithstanding
Adam and Repeal.
Paradise is that old mansion
Many owned before —
Occupied by each an instant
Then reversed the Door —
Bliss is frugal of her Leases
Adam taught her Thrift
Bankrupt once through his excesses —
No lover saith, I love, nor any other
Can judge a perfect lover;
He thinks that else none can or will agree,
That any loves but he;
I cannot say I loved, for who can say
He...