She died at play -
Gambolled away
Her lease of spotted hours,
Then sank as gaily as a Turk
Upon a Couch of flowers -
Her ghost strolled softly over the hill -
Yesterday, and Today -
Her vestments as the silver fleece -
Her countenance as spray.
Lady red - amid the Hill
Her annual secret keeps!
A Lady white, within the Field
In placid Lily sleeps!
The tidy Breezes, with their Brooms -
Sweep vale - and hill - and tree!
Prithee, My pretty Housewives!
Who may expected be?
The Neighbors do not yet suspect!
The Woods exchange a smile!
Orchard, and Buttercup, and Bird -
In such a little while!
And yet, how still the Landscape stands!
How nonchalant the Hedge!
As if the "Resurrection"
Were nothing very strange.
Glowing is her Bonnet -
Glowing is her Cheek -
Glowing is her Kirtle -
Yet she cannot speak.
Better as the Daisy
From the Summer hill
Vanish unrecorded
Save by tearful rill -
Save by loving sunrise
Looking for her face.
Save by feet unnumbered
Pausing at the place.
A throe upon the features -
A hurry in the breath -
An ecstasy of parting
Denominated "Death" -
An anguish at the mention
Which when to patience grown -
I've known permission given
To rejoin it's own.
"Arcturus" is his other name -
I'd rather call him "Star"!
It's very mean of Science
To go and interfere!
I slew a worm the other day,
A "Savan" passing by
Murmured "Resurgam" - "Centipede"!
"Oh Lord, how frail are we"!
I pull a flower from the woods -
A monster with a glass
Computes the stamens in a breath -
And has her in a "Class"!
Whereas I took the Butterfly
Aforetime in my hat,
He sits erect in "Cabinets" -
The Clover bells forgot!
What once was "Heaven"
Is "Zenith" now!
Where I proposed to go
When Time's brief masquerade was done
Is mapped, and charted too!
What if the "poles" should frisk about
And stand upon their heads!
I hope I'm ready for "the worst" -
Whatever prank betides!
Perhaps the "kingdom of Heaven's" changed.
I hope the "Children" there
Wont be "new fashioned" when I come -
And laugh at me - and stare!
I hope the Father in the skies
Will lift his little girl -
"Old fashioned"! Naughty! Everything!
Over the stile of "pearl"!
Who never lost, are unprepared
A Coronet to find!
Who never thirsted
Flagons, and Cooling Tamarind!
Who never climbed the weary league -
Can such a foot explore
The purple territories
On Pizarro's shore?
How many Legions overcome -
The Emperor will say?
How many Colors taken
On Revolution Day?
How many Bullets bearest?
Hast Thou the Royal scar?
Angels! Write "Promoted"
On this Soldier's brow!
Low at my problem bending,
Another problem comes -
Larger than mine - serener -
Involving statelier sums.
I check my busy pencil -
My figures file away -
Wherefore, my baffled fingers
Thy perplexity?
Ambition cannot find him -
Affection doesn't know
How many leagues of nowhere
Lie between them now!
Yesterday, undistinguished!
Eminent Today
For our mutual honor,
Immortality!
Success is counted sweetest
By those who never succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.
Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the Flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of Victory
As he defeated - dying -
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!
So from the mould
Scarlet and Gold
Many a Bulb will rise -
Hidden away, cunningly,
From sagacious eyes.
So from Cocoon
Many a Worm
Leap so Highland gay,
Peasants like me -
Peasants like Thee
Gaze perplexedly.