I’m hardly justified
In sending all the Birds away—
And moving into Pod—
Myself—for scarcely settled—
The Phoebes have begun—
And then—it’s time to strike my Tent—
And open House—again—
It’s mostly, interruptions—
My Summer—is despoiled—
Because there was a Winter—once—
And al the Cattle—starved—
And so there was a Deluge—
And swept the World away—
But Ararat’s a Legend—now—
And no one credits Noah—
Not—I—the Earl—I—feared the Sea—too muchUnsanctified—to touch—Praying that I might beWorthy—the Destiny—The Swarthy fellow swam—And bore my Jewel—Home—Home to the Hut! What lotHad I—the Jewel—got—Borne on a Dusky Breasty—I had not deemed a VestOf Amber—fit—The Negro never knewI—wooed it—too—To gain, or be undone—Alike to Him—One—
All other Plaudit beSuperfluous—An IncenseBeyond Necessity—Fame of Myself to lack—AlthoughMy Name be else Supreme—This were an Honor honorless—A futile Diadem—
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 what wrongHe did never say—Stabbed—while I suedHis sweet forgiveness—Jesus—it’s your little ‘John’!Don’t you know—me?
When I was carried by the farms,–It had the tassels on.I thought how yellow it would lookWhen Richard went to mill;And then I wanted to get out,But something held my will.I thought just how red apples wedgedThe stubble’s joints between;And carts went stooping round the fieldsTo take the pumpkins in.I wondered which would miss me…
Elate—a Bee—Thou’rt neither—Neither—thy capacity—But, Blossom, were I,I would rather beThy momentThan a Bee’s Eternity—Content of fadingIs enough for me—Fade I unto Divinity—And Dying—Lifetime—Ample as the Eye—Her least attention raise on me—
Proud of my night, since thou, with moons, dos’t shake it.Not to partake thy passion, -my humilityThou can’st not boast, like Jesus, drunken without companionWas the strong cup of anguish brewed for the NazareneThou can’st not pierce tradition with the peerless puncture,See! I usurped thy crucifix to honor mine!
