He told a homely tale
And spotted it with tears —
Upon his infant face was set
The Cicatrice of years —
All crumpled was the cheek
No other kiss had known
Than flake of snow, divided with
The Redbreast of the Barn —
If Mother — in the Grave —
Or Father — on...
He touched me, so I live to know
That such a day, permitted so,
I groped upon his breast —
It was a boundless place to me
And silenced, as the awful sea
Puts minor streams to rest.
And now, I'm different from before,
As if I breathed superior air —
Or brushed a Royal Gown —...
He was my host — he was my guest,
I never to this day
If I invited him could tell,
Or he invited me.
So infinite our intercourse
So intimate, indeed,
Analysis as capsule seemed
To keeper of the seed.
He was weak, and I was strong — then —
So He let me lead him in —
I was weak, and He was strong then —
So I let him lead me — Home.
'Twasn't far — the door was near —
'Twasn't dark — for He went — too —
'Twasn't loud, for He said nought —
That was all I cared to know.
...
He went by sleep that drowsy route
To the surmising Inn —
At day break to begin his race
Or ever to remain —
He who in Himself believes —
Fraud cannot presume —
Faith is Constancy's Result —
And assumes — from Home —
Cannot perish, though it fail
Every second time —
But defaced Vicariously —
For Some Other Shame —
Heart! We will forget him!
You and I — tonight!
You may forget the warmth he gave —
I will forget the light!
When you have done, pray tell me
That I may straight begin!
Haste! lest while you're lagging
I remember him!
Heart, not so heavy as mine
Wending late home —
As it passed my window
Whistled itself a tune —
A careless snatch — a ballad — A ditty of the street —
Yet to my irritated Ear
An Anodyne so sweet —
It was as if a Bobolink
Sauntering this way
Carolled, and paused, and...
Heaven is so far of the Mind
That were the Mind dissolved —
The Site — of it — by Architect
Could not again be proved —
'Tis vast — as our Capacity —
As fair — as our idea —
To Him of adequate desire
No further 'tis, than Here —
"Heaven" — is what I cannot reach!
The Apple on the Tree —
Provided it do hopeless — hang —
That — "Heaven" is — to Me!
The Color, on the Cruising Cloud —
The interdicted Land —
Behind the Hill — the House behind —
There — Paradise — is found!
Her teasing Purples —...