476

I meant to have but modest needs --
Such as Content -- and Heaven --
Within my income -- these could lie
And Life and I -- keep even --

But since the last -- included both --
It would suffice my Prayer
But just for One -- to stipulate --
And Grace would grant the Pair --

And so -- upon this wise -- I prayed --
Great Spirit -- Give to me
A Heaven not so large as Yours,
But large enough -- for me --

A Smile suffused Jehovah's face --
The Cherubim -- withdrew --
Grave Saints stole out to look at me --
And showed their dimples -- too --

I left the Place, with all my might --
I threw my Prayer away --
The Quiet Ages picked it up --
And Judgment -- twinkled -- too --
Tat one so honest -- be extant --
It take the Tale for true --
That "Whatsoever Ye shall ask --
Itself be given You" --

But I, grown shrewder -- scan the Skies
With a suspicious Air --
As Children -- swindled for the first
All Swindlers -- be -- infer --

No Man can compass a Despair --
As round a Goalless Road
No faster than a Mile at once
The Traveller proceed --

Unconscious of the Width --
Unconscious that the Sun
Be setting on His progress --
So accurate the One

At estimating Pain --
Whose own -- has just begun --
His ignorance -- the Angel
That pilot Him along --

I had no time to Hate --
Because
The Grave would hinder Me --
And Life was not so
Ample I
Could finish -- Enmity --

Nor had I time to Love --
But since
Some Industry must be --
The little Toil of Love --
I thought
Be large enough for Me --

She dealt her pretty words like Blades --
How glittering they shone --
And every One unbared a Nerve
Or wantoned with a Bone --

She never deemed -- she hurt --
That -- is not Steel's Affair --
A vulgar grimace in the Flesh --
How ill the Creatures bear --

To Ache is human -- not polite --
The Film upon the eye
Mortality's old Custom --
Just locking up -- to Die.

"Why do I love" You, Sir?
Because --
The Wind does not require the Grass
To answer -- Wherefore when He pass
She cannot keep Her place.

Because He knows -- and
Do not You --
And We know not --
Enough for Us
The Wisdom it be so --

The Lightning -- never asked an Eye
Wherefore it shut -- when He was by --
Because He knows it cannot speak --
And reasons not contained --
-- Of Talk --
There be -- preferred by Daintier Folk --

The Sunrise -- Sire -- compelleth Me --
Because He's Sunrise -- and I see --
Therefore -- Then --
I love Thee --

The Himmaleh was known to stoop
Unto the Daisy low --
Transported with Compassion
That such a Doll should grow
Where Tent by Tent -- Her Universe
Hung out its Flags of Snow --

We Cover Thee -- Sweet Face --
Not that We tire of Thee --
But that Thyself fatigue of Us --
Remember -- as Thou go --
We follow Thee until
Thou notice Us -- no more --
And then -- reluctant -- turn away
To Con Thee o'er and o'er --

And blame the scanty love
We were Content to show --
Augmented -- Sweet -- a Hundred fold --
If Thou would'st take it -- now --

A Solemn thing within the Soul
To feel itself get ripe --
And golden hang -- while farther up --
The Maker's Ladders stop --
And in the Orchard far below --
You hear a Being -- drop --

A Wonderful -- to feel the Sun
Still toiling at the Cheek
You thought was finished --
Cool of eye, and critical of Work --
He shifts the stem -- a little --
To give your Core -- a look --

But solemnest -- to know
Your chance in Harvest moves
A little nearer -- Every Sun
The Single -- to some lives.

My Garden -- like the Beach --
Denotes there be -- a Sea --
That's Summer --
Such as These -- the Pearls
She fetches -- such as Me