To make One's Toilette -- after Death
Has made the Toilette cool
Of only Taste we cared to please
Is difficult, and still --

That's easier -- than Braid the Hair --
And make the Bodice gay --
When eyes that fondled it are wrenched
By Decalogues -- away --

I was the slightest in the House --
I took the smallest Room --
At night, my little Lamp, and Book --
And one Geranium --

So stationed I could catch the Mint
That never ceased to fall --
And just my Basket --
Let me think -- I'm sure --
That this was all --

I never spoke -- unless addressed --
And then, 'twas brief and low --
I could not bear to live -- aloud --
The Racket shamed me so --

And if it had not been so far --
And any one I knew
Were going -- I had often thought
How noteless -- I could die --

You love the Lord -- you cannot see --
You write Him -- every day --
A little note -- when you awake --
And further in the Day.

An Ample Letter -- How you miss --
And would delight to see --
But then His House -- is but a Step --
And Mine's -- in Heaven -- You see.

Myself was formed -- a Carpenter --
An unpretending time
My Plane -- and I, together wrought
Before a Builder came --

To measure our attainments --
Had we the Art of Boards
Sufficiently developed -- He'd hire us
At Halves --

My Tools took Human -- Faces --
The Bench, where we had toiled --
Against the Man -- persuaded --
We -- Temples build -- I said --

We pray -- to Heaven --
We prate -- of Heaven --
Relate -- when Neighbors die --
At what o'clock to heaven -- they fled --
Who saw them -- Wherefore fly?

Is Heaven a Place -- a Sky -- a Tree?
Location's narrow way is for Ourselves --
Unto the Dead
There's no Geography --

But State -- Endowal -- Focus --
Where -- Omnipresence -- fly?

To One denied the drink
To tell what Water is
Would be acuter, would it not
Than letting Him surmise?

To lead Him to the Well
And let Him hear it drip
Remind Him, would it not, somewhat
Of His condemned lip?

While it is alive
Until Death touches it
While it and I lap one Air
Dwell in one Blood
Under one Sacrament
Show me Division can split or pare --

Love is like Life -- merely longer
Love is like Death, during the Grave
Love is the Fellow of the Resurrection
Scooping up the Dust and chanting "Live"!

Civilization -- spurns -- the Leopard!
Was the Leopard -- bold?
Deserts -- never rebuked her Satin --
Ethiop -- her Gold --
Tawny -- her Customs --
She was Conscious --
Spotted -- her Dun Gown --
This was the Leopard's nature -- Signor --
Need -- a keeper -- frown?

Pity -- the Pard -- that left her Asia --
Memories -- of Palm --
Cannot be stifled -- with Narcotic --
Nor suppressed -- with Balm --

The World -- stands -- solemner -- to me --
Since I was wed -- to Him --
A modesty befits the soul
That bears another's -- name --
A doubt -- if it be fair -- indeed --
To wear that perfect -- pearl --
The Man -- upon the Woman -- binds --
To clasp her soul -- for all --
A prayer, that it more angel -- prove --
A whiter Gift -- within --
To that munificence, that chose --
So unadorned -- a Queen --
A Gratitude -- that such be true --
It had esteemed the Dream --
Too beautiful -- for Shape to prove --
Or posture -- to redeem!