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As Sleigh Bells seem in summer
As Sleigh Bells seem in summer Or Bees, at Christmas show -- So fairy -- so fictitious The individuals do Repealed from observation -- A Party that we knew -- More distant in an instant Than Dawn in T
Did life's penurious length
Did life's penurious length Italicize its sweetness, The men that daily live Would stand so deep in joy That it would clog the cogs Of that revolving reason Whose esoteric belt Protects our sanity.
Absent Place -- an April Day --
Absent Place -- an April Day -- Daffodils a-blow Homesick curiosity To the Souls that snow -- Drift may block within it Deeper than without -- Daffodil delight but Him it duplicate --
Yesterday is History,
Yesterday is History, 'Tis so far away -- Yesterday is Poetry -- 'Tis Philosophy -- Yesterday is mystery -- Where it is Today While we shrewdly speculate Flutter both away
All but Death, can be Adjusted --
All but Death, can be Adjusted -- Dynasties repaired -- Systems -- settled in their Sockets -- Citadels -- dissolved -- Wastes of Lives -- resown with Colors By Succeeding Springs -- Death -- unto it
Did Our Best Moment last
Did Our Best Moment last -- 'Twould supersede the Heaven -- A few -- and they by Risk -- procure -- So this Sort -- are not given -- Except as stimulants -- in Cases of Despair -- Or Stupor -- The R
Summer is shorter than any one --
Summer is shorter than any one -- Life is shorter than Summer -- Seventy Years is spent as quick As an only Dollar -- Sorrow -- now -- is polite -- and stays -- See how well we spurn him -- Equally t
A Pit -- but Heaven over it --
A Pit -- but Heaven over it -- And Heaven beside, and Heaven abroad, And yet a Pit -- With Heaven over it. To stir would be to slip -- To look would be to drop -- To dream -- to sap the Prop That hol
The Moon is distant from the Sea
The Moon is distant from the Sea -- And yet, with Amber Hands -- She leads Him -- docile as a Boy -- Along appointed Sands -- He never misses a Degree -- Obedient to Her Eye He comes just so far -- t
Through those old Grounds of memory,
Through those old Grounds of memory, The sauntering alone Is a divine intemperance A prudent man would shun. Of liquors that are vended 'Tis easy to beware But statutes do not meddle With the internal
H. Baptism II
Since, Lord, to thee A narrow way and little gate Is all the passage, on my infancy Thou didst lay hold, and antedate My faith in me. O let me still Write thee great God, and me a child: Let me be so
Fragment: 'Unrisen Splendour of the Brightest Sun'
Unrisen splendour of the brightest sun, To rise upon our darkness, if the star Now beckoning thee out of thy misty throne Could thaw the clouds which wage an obscure war With thy young brightness!
From all the Jails the Boys and Girls
From all the Jails the Boys and Girls Ecstatically leap -- Beloved only Afternoon That Prison doesn't keep They storm the Earth and stun the Air, A Mob of solid Bliss -- Alas -- that Frowns should li
Is it Well with the Child?
Safe where I cannot die yet, Safe where I hope to lie too, Safe from the fume and the fret; You, and you, Whom I never forget. Safe from the frost and the snow, Safe from the storm and the
He put the Belt around my life
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 --
Psalm XLVI: God Is the Refuge (excerpt)
God is the refuge of his saints, When storms of sharp distress invade; Ere we can offer our complaints, Behold him present with his aid! Let mountains from their seats be hurled Down to the deep, and
Nature affects to be sedate
Nature affects to be sedate Upon occasion, grand But let our observation shut Her practices extend To Necromancy and the Trades Remote to understand Behold our spacious Citizen Unto a Juggler turned
The Sun and Moon must make their haste --
The Sun and Moon must make their haste -- The Stars express around For in the Zones of Paradise The Lord alone is burned -- His Eye, it is the East and West -- The North and South when He Do concentr
Suspense -- is Hostiler than Death --
Suspense -- is Hostiler than Death -- Death -- tho'soever Broad, Is Just Death, and cannot increase -- Suspense -- does not conclude -- But perishes -- to live anew -- But just anew to die -- Annihil
Undue Significance a starving man attaches
Undue Significance a starving man attaches To Food -- Far off -- He sighs -- and therefore -- Hopeless -- And therefore -- Good -- Partaken -- it relieves -- indeed -- But proves us That Spices fly I
Funny -- to be a Century
Funny -- to be a Century -- And see the People -- going by -- I -- should die of the Oddity -- But then -- I'm not so staid -- as He -- He keeps His Secrets safely -- very -- Were He to tell -- extre
Between the form of Life and Life
Between the form of Life and Life The difference is as big As Liquor at the Lip between And Liquor in the Jug The latter -- excellent to keep -- But for ecstatic need The corkless is superior -- I kno
God permits industrious Angels
God permits industrious Angels -- Afternoons -- to play -- I met one -- forgot my Schoolmates -- All -- for Him -- straightway -- God calls home -- the Angels -- promptly -- At the Setting Sun -- I mi
Lines Written in "Letters of an Italian Nun and an English Gentleman, by J. J. Rousseau; Founded on Facts."
"Away, away,--your flattering arts May now betray some simpler hearts; And _you_ will _smile_ at their believing, And _they_ shall _weep_ at your deceiving."