J 283, Fr 254
A Mien to move a Queen — Half Child — Half Heroine — An Orleans in the Eye That puts its manner by For humbler Company When none are near Even a Tear — Its frequent Visitor — A Bonnet like a Duke — And yet a Wren's Peruke Were not so shy Of Goer by — And Hands — so slight — They would elate a Sprite With Merriment — A Voice that Alters — Low And on the Ear can go Like Let of Snow — Or shift supreme — As tone of Realm On Subjects Diadem — Too small — to fear — Too distant — to endear — And so Men Compromise And just — revere —
J 284, Fr 255
The Drop, that wrestles in the Sea — Forgets her own locality — As I — toward Thee — She knows herself an incense small — Yet small — she sighs — if All — is All — How larger — be? The Ocean — smiles — at her Conceit — But she, forgetting Amphitrite — Pleads — "Me"?
J 285, Fr 256
The Robin's my Criterion for Tune — Because I grow — where Robins do — But, were I Cuckoo born — I'd swear by him — The ode familiar — rules the Noon — The Buttercup's, my Whim for Bloom — Because, we're Orchard sprung — But, were I Britain born, I'd Daisies spurn — None but the Nut — October fit — Because, through dropping it, The Seasons flit — I'm taught — Without the Snow's Tableau Winter, were lie — to me — Because I see — New Englandly — The Queen, discerns like me — Provincially —
J 243, Fr 257
I've known a Heaven, like a Tent — To wrap its shining Yards — Pluck up its stakes, and disappear — Without the sound of Boards Or Rip of Nail — Or Carpenter — But just the miles of Stare — That signalize a Show's Retreat — In North America — No Trace — no Figment of the Thing That dazzled, Yesterday, No Ring — no Marvel — Men, and Feats — Dissolved as utterly — As Bird's far Navigation Discloses just a Hue — A plash of Oars, a Gaiety — Then swallowed up, of View.
J 244, Fr 242
It is easy to work when the soul is at play — But when the soul is in pain — The hearing him put his playthings up Makes work difficult — then — It is simple, to ache in the Bone, or the Rind — But Gimlets — among the nerve — Mangle daintier — terribler — Like a Panter in the Glove —
J 286, Fr 243
That after Horror — that 'twas us — That passed the mouldering Pier — Just as the Granite Crumb let go — Our Savior, by a Hair — A second more, had dropped too deep For Fisherman to plumb — The very profile of the Thought Puts Recollection numb — The possibility — to pass Without a Moment's Bell — Into Conjecture's presence — Is like a Face of Steel — That suddenly looks into ours With a metallic grin — The Cordiality of Death — Who drills his Welcome in —
J 223, Fr 258
I Came to buy a smile — today — But just a single smile — The smallest one upon your face Will suit me just as well — The one that no one else would miss It shone so very small — I'm pleading at the "counter" — sir — Could you afford to sell — I've Diamonds — on my fingers — You know what Diamonds are? I've Rubies — live the Evening Blood — And Topaz — like the star! 'Twould be "a Bargain" for a Jew! Say — may I have it — Sir?
J 288, Fr 260
I'm Nobody! Who are you? Are you — Nobody — Too? Then there's a pair of us! Don't tell! They'd banish us — you know! How dreary — to be — Somebody! How public — like a Frog — To tell one's name — the livelong June — To an admiring Bog!
J 245, Fr 261
I held a Jewel in my fingers — And went to sleep — The day was warm, and winds were prosy — I said "'Twill keep" — I woke — and chid my honest fingers, The Gem was gone — And now, an Amethyst remembrance Is all I own —
J 240, Fr 262
Ah, Moon — and Star! You are very far — But were no one Farther than you — Do you think I'd stop For a Firmament — Or a Cubit — or so? I could borrow a Bonnet Of the Lark — And a Chamois' Silver Boot — And a stirrup of an Antelope — And be with you — Tonight! But, Moon, and Star, Though you're very far — There is one — farther than you — He — is more than a firmament — from Me — So I can never go!
J 317, Fr 263
Just so — Jesus — raps — He — doesn't weary — Last — at the Knocker — And first — at the Bell. Then — on divinest tiptoe — standing — Might He but spy the lady's soul — When He — retires — Chilled — or weary — It will be ample time for — me — Patient — upon the steps — until then — Hears! I am knocking — low at thee.
J 246, Fr 264
Forever at His side to walk — The smaller of the two! Brain of His Brain — Blood of His Blood — Two lives — One Being — now — Forever of His fate to taste — If grief — the largest part — If joy — to put my piece away For that beloved Heart — All life — to know each other — Whom we can never learn — And bye and bye — a Change — Called Heaven — Rapt Neighborhoods of Men — Just finding out — what puzzled us — Without the lexicon!
J 221, Fr 265
It can't be "Summer"! That — got through! It's early — yet — for "Spring"! There's that long town of White — to cross — Before the Blackbirds sing! It can't be "Dying"! It's too Rouge — The Dead shall go in White — So Sunset shuts my question down With Cuffs of Chrysolite!
J 247, Fr 266
What would I give to see his face? I'd give — I'd give my life — of course — But that is not enough! Stop just a minute — let me think! I'd give my biggest Bobolink! That makes two — Him — and Life! You know who "June" is — I'd give her — Roses a day from Zanzibar — And Lily tubes — like Wells — Bees — by the furlong — Straits of Blue Navies of Butterflies — sailed thro' — And dappled Cowslip Dells — Then I have "shares" in Primrose "Banks" — Daffodil Dowries — spicy "Stocks" — Dominions — broad as Dew — Bags of Doublons — adventurous Bees Brought me — from firmamental seas — And Purple — from Peru — Now — have I bought it — "Shylock"? Say! Sign me the Bond! "I vow to pay To Her — who pledges this — One hour — of her Sovereign's face"! Ecstatic Contract! Niggard Grace! My Kingdom's worth of Bliss!
J 248, Fr 268
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 "White Robe" — And they — were the little Hand — that knocked — Could — I — forbid?
J 249, Fr 269
Wild Nights — Wild Nights! Were I with thee Wild Nights should be Our luxury! Futile — the Winds — To a Heart in port — Done with the Compass — Done with the Chart! Rowing in Eden — Ah, the Sea! Might I but moor — Tonight — In Thee!
J 250, Fr 270
I shall keep singing! Birds will pass me On their way to Yellower Climes — Each — with a Robin's expectation — I — with my Redbreast — And my Rhymes — Late — when I take my place in summer — But — I shall bring a fuller tune — Vespers — are sweeter than Matins — Signor — Morning — only the seed of Noon —
J 251, Fr 271
Over the fence — Strawberries — grow — Over the fence — I could climb — if I tried, I know — Berries are nice! But — if I stained my Apron — God would certainly scold! Oh, dear, — I guess if He were a Boy — He'd — climb — if He could!