He preached upon "Breadth" till it argued him narrow —
The Broad are too broad to define
And of "Truth" until it proclaimed him a Liar —
The Truth never flaunted a Sign —
Simplicity fled from his counterfeit presence
As Gold the Pyrites would shun —
What confusion would cover the innocent Jesus...
He put the Belt around my life
I heard the Buckle snap —
And turned away, imperial,
My Lifetime folding up —
Deliberate, as a Duke would do
A Kingdom's Title Deed —
Henceforth, a Dedicated sort —
A Member of the Cloud.
Yet not too far to come at call —
And do the...
He strained my faith —
Did he find it supple?
Shook my strong trust —
Did it then — yield?
Hurled my belief —
But — did he shatter — it?
Racked — with suspense —
Not a nerve failed!
Wrung me — with Anguish —
But I never doubted him —
'Tho' for...
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!