The Manner of its Death
When Certain it must die —
'Tis deemed a privilege to choose —
'Twas Major Andre's Way —
When Choice of Life — is past —
There yet remains a Love
Its little Fate to stipulate —
How small in those who live —
The Miracle to tease
...
The Martyr Poets — did not tell —
But wrought their Pang in syllable —
That when their mortal name be numb —
Their mortal fate — encourage Some —
The Martyr Painters — never spoke —
Bequeathing — rather — to their Work —
That when their conscious fingers cease —
Some seek in Art — the...
The Merchant of the Picturesque
A Counter has and sales
But is within or negative
Precisely as the calls —
To Children he is small in price
And large in courtesy —
It suits him better than a check
Their artless currency —
Of Counterfeits he is so shy
Do one advance so...
The Mind lives on the Heart
Like any Parasite —
If that is full of Meat
The Mind is fat.
But if the Heart omit
Emaciate the Wit —
The Aliment of it
So absolute.
The Missing All — prevented Me
From missing minor Things.
If nothing larger than a World's
Departure from a Hinge —
Or Sun's extinction, be observed —
'Twas not so large that I
Could lift my Forehead from my work
For Curiosity.
The mob within the heart
Police cannot suppress
The riot given at the first
Is authorized as peace
Uncertified of scene
Or signified of sound
But growing like a hurricane
In a congenial ground.
Rebellion is my theme all day;
I only wish 'twould come
(As who knows but perhaps it may?)
A little nearer home.
Yon roaring boys, who rave and fight
On t'other side th' Atlantic
I always held them in the right
But most so when most frantic.
When lawless...
* * *
The [rose put envious del.] [lustful del.] modest rose puts forth a thorn,
The [coward del.] humble sheep a threat’ning horn:
While the Lily white shall in love delight,
[And the lion increase freedom & piece, del.]
[The priest loves war & the soldier...
The Months have ends — the Years — a knot —
No Power can untie
To stretch a little further
A Skein of Misery —
The Earth lays back these tired lives
In her mysterious Drawers —
Too tenderly, that any doubt
An ultimate Repose —
The manner of the Children —
...
The Moon is distant from the Sea —
And yet, with Amber Hands —
She leads Him — docile as a Boy —
Along appointed Sands —
He never misses a Degree —
Obedient to Her Eye
He comes just so far — toward the Town —
Just so far — goes away —
Oh, Signor, Thine, the Amber Hand...