1. heaven

  • Than Heaven more remote,

    Than Heaven more remote,

    For Heaven is the root,

    But these the flitted seed.

    More flown indeed

    Than ones that never were,

    Or those that hide, and are.


    What madness, by their side,

    A vision to provide

    Of future days

    They cannot praise.


    My soul,...

  • The Fact that Earth is Heaven —

    The Fact that Earth is Heaven —

    Whether Heaven is Heaven or not

    If not an Affidavit

    Of that specific Spot

    Not only must confirm us

    That it is not for us

    But that it would affront us

    To dwell in such a place —

  • The Heaven vests for Each

    The Heaven vests for Each

    In that small Deity

    It craved the grace to worship

    Some bashful Summer's Day —


    Half shrinking from the Glory

    It importuned to see

    Till these faint Tabernacles drop

    In full Eternity —


    How imminent the Venture —

    As one should sue a...

  • Their Height in Heaven comforts not —

    Their Height in Heaven comforts not —

    Their Glory — nought to me —

    'Twas best imperfect — as it was —

    I'm finite — I can't see —


    The House of Supposition —

    The Glimmering Frontier that

    Skirts the Acres of Perhaps —

    To Me — shows insecure —


    The Wealth I had — contented...

  • We pray — to Heaven —

    We pray — to Heaven —

    We prate — of Heaven —

    Relate — when Neighbors die —

    At what o'clock to heaven — they fled —

    Who saw them — Wherefore fly?


    Is Heaven a Place — a Sky — a Tree?

    Location's narrow way is for Ourselves —

    Unto the Dead

    There's no Geography —

    ...

  • Which is best? Heaven —

    Which is best? Heaven —

    Or only Heaven to come

    With that old Codicil of Doubt?

    I cannot help esteem


    The "Bird within the Hand"

    Superior to the one

    The "Bush" may yield me

    Or may not

    Too late to choose again.

  • Who has not found the Heaven — below —

    Who has not found the Heaven — below —

    Will fail of it above —

    For Angels rent the House next ours,

    Wherever we remove —

  • Why — do they shut Me out of Heaven?

    Why — do they shut Me out of Heaven?

    Did I sing — too loud?

    But — I can say a little "Minor"

    Timid as a Bird!


    Wouldn't the Angels try me —

    Just — once — more —

    Just — see — if I troubled them —

    But don't — shut the door!


    Oh, if I — were the Gentleman

    In the...