‘ ‘Twas Sunset’—Some one said—
I only saw a Sapphire Farm—
And just a Single Herd—
Of Opal Cattle—feeding far
Upon so vain a Hill—
As even while I looked—dissolved—
Nor Cattle were—nor Soil—
But in their stead—a Sea—displayed—
And Ships—of such a size
As Crew of Mountains—could afford—
And Decks—to seat the skies—
This—too—the Showman rubbed away—
And when I looked again—
Nor Farm—nor Opal Herd—was there—
Nor Mediterranean—
In it wait till judgment breakExcellent and fair.Be its mattress straight,Be its pillow round;Let no sunrise’ yellow noiseInterrupt this ground.
I—hastened to demandTo fill the awful VacuumYour life had left behind—I worried Nature with my WheelsWhen Hers had ceased to run—When she had put away Her WorkMy own had just begun.I strove to weary Brain and Bone—To harass to fatigueThe glittering Retinue of nerves—Vitality to clogTo some dull comfort Those obtainWho put a Head awayThey…
As an Evening West,To a fine, pedantic sunshine—In a satin Vest!
I know it by the numb lookSuch houses have alway.The neighbors rustle in and out,The doctor drives away.A window opens like a pod,Abrupt, mechanically;Somebody flings a mattress out,–The children hurry by;They wonder if It died on that,–I used to when a boy.The minister goes stiffly inAs if the house were his,And he owned all the…
And I have ceased to wonder why—Christ will explain each separate anguishIn the fair schoolroom of the sky—He will tell me what ‘Peter’ promised—And I—for wonder at his woe—I shall forget the drop of AnguishThat scalds me now—that scalds me now!
With Whom I spoke no Word—The Stars that stated come to TownEsteemed Me never rudeAlthough to their Celestial CallI failed to make reply—My constant—reverential FaceSufficient Courtesy.
