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!
His musket on his breast—Grant God, he charge the bravestOf all the martial blest!Please God, might I behold himIn epauletted white—I should not fear the foe then—I should not fear the fight!
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 remembranceIs all I own—
Therein thyself shalt findThe ‘Undiscovered Continent’—No Settler had the Mind.
A hurry in the breath—An ecstasy of partingDenominated ‘Death’—An anguish at the mentionWhich when to patience grown,I’ve known permission givenTo rejoin its own.
And ‘difficult the Gate’—And ‘few there be’—Correct again—That ‘enter in—thereat’—‘Tis Costly—So are purples!‘Tis just the price of Breath—With but the ‘Discount’ of the Grave—Termed by the Brokers—’Death’!And after that—there’s Heaven—The Good Man’s—’Dividend’—And Bad Men—’go to Jail’—I guess—
In itself—a quiet thingThat may furnish the Fuse unto a SparkIn dormant nature—lain—Let us deport—with skill—Let us discourse—with care—Powder exists in Charcoal—Before it exists in Fire.
