Bound - a trouble - And lives can bear it! Limit - how deep a bleeding go! So - many - drops - of vital scarlet - Deal with the soul As with Algebra! Tell it the Ages - to a cypher - And it will ache - contented - on - Sing - at it's pain - as any Workman - Notching the fall of the Even Sun!
Me, change! Me, alter! Then I will, when on the Everlasting Hill A Smaller Purple grows - At sunset, or a lesser glow Flickers upon Cordillera - At Day's superior close!
Did we disobey Him? Just one time! Charged us to forget Him - But we could'nt learn! Were Himself - such a Dunce - What would we - do? Love the dull lad - best - Oh, wouldn't you.
This - is the land - the Sunset washes - These - are the Banks of the Yellow Sea - Where it rose - or whither it rushes - These - are the Western Mystery! Night after Night Her purple traffic Strews the landing with Opal Bales - Merchantmen - poise upon Horizons - Dip - and vanish like Orioles!
A Weight with Needles on the pounds - To push, and pierce, besides - That if the Flesh resist the Heft - The puncture - coolly tries - That not a pore be overlooked Of all this Compound Frame - As manifold for Anguish - As Species - be - for name.
A single Screw of Flesh Is all that pins the Soul That stands for Deity, to Mine, Upon my side the Veil - Once witnessed of the Gauze - It's name is put away As far from mine, as if no plight Had printed yesterday,
In tender - solemn Alphabet, My eyes just turned to see, When it was smuggled by my sight Into Eternity -
More Hands - to hold - These are but Two - One more new-mailed Nerve Just granted, for the Peril's sake - Some striding - Giant - Love -
So greater than the Gods can show, They slink before the Clay, That not for all their Heaven can boast Will let it's Keepsake - go.
The lonesome for they know not What - The Eastern Exiles - be - Who strayed beyond the Amber line Some madder Holiday - And ever since - the purple Moat They strive to climb - in vain - As Birds - that tumble from the clouds Do fumble at the strain -
The Blessed Ether - taught them - Some Transatlantic Morn - When Heaven - was too common - to miss - Too sure - to dote upon!
Put up my lute! What of - my Music! Since the sole ear I cared to charm - Passive - as Granite - laps My Music - Sobbing - will suit - as well as psalm! Would but the "Memnon" of the Desert - Teach me the strain That vanquished Him - When He - surrendered to the Sunrise - Maybe - that - would awaken - them!
Read - Sweet - how others - strove - Till we - are stouter - What they - renounced - Till we - are less afraid - How many times they - bore the faithful witness - Till we - are helped - As if a Kingdom - cared! Read then - of faith - That shone above the fagot - Clear strains of Hymn The River could not drown - Brave names of Men - And Celestial Women - Passed out - of Record Into - Renown!