The farthest Thunder that I heard
Was nearer than the Sky
And rumbles still, though torrid Noons
Have lain their missiles by —
The Lightning that preceded it
Struck no one but myself —
But I would not exchange the Bolt
For all the rest of Life —
Indebtedness to Oxygen
...
The fascinating chill that music leaves
Is Earth's corroboration
Of Ecstasy's impediment —
'Tis Rapture's germination
In timid and tumultuous soil
A fine — estranging creature —
To something upper wooing us
But not to our Creator —
The feet of people walking home -
With gayer sandals go -
The Crocus, till she rises
The Vassal of the snow -
The lips at Hallelujah
Long years of practise bore -
Till bye and bye these Bargemen
Walked singing, on the shore.
Pearls are the Diver's farthings -
...
The Fingers of the Light
Tapped soft upon the Town
With "I am great and cannot wait
So therefore let me in."
"You're soon," the Town replied,
"My Faces are asleep —
But swear, and I will let you by,
You will not wake them up."
The easy Guest complied
But...
The first Day that I was a Life
I recollect it — How still —
That last Day that I was a Life
I recollect it — as well —
'Twas stiller — though the first
Was still —
"Twas empty — but the first
Was full —
This — was my finallest Occasion —
But then
...
The first Day's Night had come —
And grateful that a thing
So terrible — had been endured —
I told my Soul to sing —
She said her Strings were snapt —
Her Bow — to Atoms blown —
And so to mend her — gave me work
Until another Morn —
And then — a Day as huge
...
"North and South too many an hour
I've by the skipper held the wheel;
Seen too many a hissing shower
O'er my old sou'-wester reel."
Not in this world to see his face
Sounds long, until I read the place
Where this is said to be
But just the primer to a life
Unopened, rare, upon the shelf,
Clasped yet to him and me.
And yet, my primer suits me so...
The first We knew of Him was Death —
The second — was — Renown —
Except the first had justified
The second had not been.
The Flake the Wind exasperate
More eloquently lie
Than if escorted to its Down
By Arm of Chivalry.