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265 Where Ships of Purple -- gently toss --
On Seas of Daffodil --
Fantastic Sailors -- mingle --
And then -- the Wharf is still!
266
This -- is the land -- the Sunset washes --
These -- are the Banks of the Yellow Sea --
Where it rose -- or whither it rushes --
These -- are the Western Mystery!
Night after Night
Her purple traffic
Strews the landing with Opal Bales --
Merchantmen -- poise upon Horizons --
Dip -- and vanish like Orioles!
267
Did we disobey Him?
Just one time!
Charged us to forget Him --
But we couldn't learn!
Were Himself -- such a Dunce --
What would we -- do?
Love the dull lad -- best --
Oh, wouldn't you?
268
Me, change! Me, alter!
Then I will, when on the Everlasting Hill
A Smaller Purple grows --
At sunset, or a lesser glow
Flickers upon Cordillera --
At Day's superior close!
269
Bound -- a trouble --
And lives can bear it!
Limit -- how deep a bleeding go!
So -- many -- drops -- of vital scarlet --
Deal with the soul
As with Algebra!
Tell it the Ages -- to a cypher --
And it will ache -- contented -- on --
Sing -- at its pain -- as any Workman --
Notching the fall of the Even Sun!
270
One Life of so much Consequence!
Yet I -- for it -- would pay --
My Soul's entire income --
In ceaseless -- salary --
One Pearl -- to me -- so signal --
That I would instant dive --
Although -- I knew -- to take it --
Would cost me -- just a life!
The Sea is full -- I know it!
That -- does not blur my Gem!
It burns -- distinct from all the row --
Intact -- in Diadem!
The life is thick -- I know it!
Yet -- not so dense a crowd --
But Monarchs -- are perceptible --
Far down the dustiest Road!
271
A solemn thing -- it was -- I said --
A woman -- white -- to be --
And wear -- if God should count me fit --
Her blameless mystery --
A hallowed thing -- to drop a life
Into the purple well --
Too plummetless -- that it return --
Eternity -- until --
I pondered how the bliss would look --
And would it feel as big --
When I could take it in my hand --
As hovering -- seen -- through fog --
And then -- the size of this "small" life --
The Sages -- call it small --
Swelled -- like Horizons -- in my vest --
And I sneered -- softly -- "small"!
272
I breathed enough to take the Trick --
And now, removed from Air --
I simulate the Breath, so well --
That One, to be quite sure --
The Lungs are stirless -- must descend
Among the Cunning Cells --
And touch the Pantomine -- Himself,
How numb, the Bellows feels!
273
He put the Belt around my life
I heard the Buckle snap --
And turned away, imperial,
My Lifetime folding up --
Deliberate, as a Duke would do
A Kingdom's Title Deed --
Henceforth, a Dedicated sort --
A Member of the Cloud.
Yet not too far to come at call --
And do the little Toils
That make the Circuit of the Rest --
And deal occasional smiles
To lives that stoop to notice mine --
And kindly ask it in --
Whose invitation, know you not
For Whom I must decline?
274
The only Ghost I ever saw
Was dressed in Mechlin -- so --
He wore no sandal on his foot --
And stepped like flakes of snow --
His Gait -- was soundless, like the Bird --
But rapid -- like the Roe --
His fashions, quaint, Mosaic --
Or haply, Mistletoe --
His conversation -- seldom --
His laughter, like the Breeze --
That dies away in Dimples
Among the pensive Trees --
Our interview -- was transient --
Of me, himself was shy --
And God forbid I look behind --
Since that appalling Day!
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