I've heard an Organ talk, sometimes
In a Cathedral Aisle,
And understood no word it said --
Yet held my breath, the while --

And risen up -- and gone away,
A more Berdardine Girl --
Yet -- know not what was done to me
In that old Chapel Aisle.

A transport one cannot contain
May yet a transport be --
Though God forbid it lift the lid --
Unto its Ecstasy!

A Diagram -- of Rapture!
A sixpence at a Show --
With Holy Ghosts in Cages!
The Universe would go!

"Faith" is a fine invention
When Gentlemen can see --
But Microscopes are prudent
In an Emergency.

What shall I do -- it whimpers so --
This little Hound within the Heart
All day and night with bark and start --
And yet, it will not go --
Would you untie it, were you me --
Would it stop whining -- if to Thee --
I sent it -- even now?

It should not tease you --
By your chair -- or, on the mat --
Or if it dare -- to climb your dizzy knee --
Or -- sometimes at your side to run --
When you were willing --
Shall it come?
Tell Carlo --
He'll tell me!

How many times these low feet staggered --
Only the soldered mouth can tell --
Try -- can you stir the awful rivet --
Try -- can you lift the hasps of steel!

Stroke the cool forehead -- hot so often --
Lift -- if you care -- the listless hair --
Handle the adamantine fingers
Never a thimble -- more -- shall wear --

Buzz the dull flies -- on the chamber window --
Brave -- shines the sun through the freckled pane --
Fearless -- the cobweb swings from the ceiling --
Indolent Housewife -- in Daisies -- lain!

Make me a picture of the sun --
So I can hang it in my room --
And make believe I'm getting warm
When others call it "Day"!

Draw me a Robin -- on a stem --
So I am hearing him, I'll dream,
And when the Orchards stop their tune --
Put my pretense -- away --

Say if it's really -- warm at noon --
Whether it's Buttercups -- that "skim" --
Or Butterflies -- that "bloom"?
Then -- skip -- the frost -- upon the lea --
And skip the Russet -- on the tree --
Let's play those -- never come!

It's such a little thing to weep --
So short a thing to sigh --
And yet -- by Trades -- the size of these
We men and women die!

He was weak, and I was strong -- then --
So He let me lead him in --
I was weak, and He was strong then --
So I let him lead me -- Home.

'Twasn't far -- the door was near --
'Twasn't dark -- for He went -- too --
'Twasn't loud, for He said nought --
That was all I cared to know.

Day knocked -- and we must part --
Neither -- was strongest -- now --
He strove -- and I strove -- too --
We didn't do it -- tho'!

The Skies can't keep their secret!
They tell it to the Hills --
The Hills just tell the Orchards --
And they -- the Daffodils!

A Bird -- by chance -- that goes that way --
Soft overhears the whole --
If I should bribe the little Bird --
Who knows but she would tell?

I think I won't -- however --
It's finer -- not to know --
If Summer were an Axiom --
What sorcery had Snow?

So keep your secret -- Father!
I would not -- if I could,
Know what the Sapphire Fellows, do,
In your new-fashioned world!

Poor little Heart!
Did they forget thee?
Then dinna care! Then dinna care!

Proud little Heart!
Did they forsake thee?
Be debonnaire! Be debonnaire!

Frail little Heart!
I would not break thee --
Could'st credit me? Could'st credit me?

Gay little Heart --
Like Morning Glory!
Wind and Sun -- wilt thee array!

I shall know why -- when Time is over --
And I have ceased to wonder why --
Christ will explain each separate anguish
In 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 Anguish
That scalds me now -- that scalds me now!

On this long storm the Rainbow rose --
On this late Morn -- the Sun --
The clouds -- like listless Elephants --
Horizons -- straggled down --

The Birds rose smiling, in their nests --
The gales -- indeed -- were done --
Alas, how heedless were the eyes --
On whom the summer shone!

The quiet nonchalance of death --
No Daybreak -- can bestir --
The slow -- Archangel's syllables
Must awaken her!