The soul selects her own society,

Yet now I know how the heather looks,And what a wave must be.I never spoke with God,Nor visited in Heaven;Yet certain am I of the spotAs if the chart were given.

The likest to the DownAn Easy Breeze do put afloatThe General Heavens—upon—It soars—and shifts—and whirls—And measures with the CloudsIn easy—even—dazzling pace—No different the Birds—Except a Wake of MusicAccompany their feet—As did the Down emit a Tune—For Ecstasy—of it

Wending late home—As it passed my windowWhistled itself a tune—A careless snatch—a ballad—A ditty of the street—Yet to my irritated EarAn Anodyne so sweet—It was as if a BobolinkSauntering this wayCarolled, and paused, and carolled—Then bubbled slow away!It was as if a chirping brookUpon a dusty way—Set bleeding feet to minuetsWithout the knowing why!Tomorrow, night…

But just a single smile—The smallest one upon your faceWill suit me just as well—The one that no one else would missIt 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…

Oh, housewife in the evening west,Come back, and dust the pond!You dropped a purple ravelling in,You dropped an amber thread;And now you’ve littered all the EastWith duds of emerald!And still she plies her spotted brooms,And still the aprons fly,Till brooms fade softly into stars —And then I come away.

When too appalled to stir—She feels some ghastly Fright come upAnd stop to look at her—Salute her—with long fingers—Caress her freezing hair—Sip, Goblin, from the very lipsThe Lover—hovered—o’er—Unworthy, that a thought so meanAccost a Theme—so—fair—The soul has moments of Escape—When bursting all the doors—She dances like a Bomb, abroad,And swings upon the Hours,As do the…