The Red -- Blaze -- is the Morning --
The Violet -- is Noon --
The Yellow -- Day -- is falling --
And after that -- is none --

But Miles of Sparks -- at Evening --
Reveal the Width that burned --
The Territory Argent -- that
Never yet -- consumed --

I am alive -- I guess --
The Branches on my Hand
Are full of Morning Glory --
And at my finger's end --

The Carmine -- tingles warm --
And if I hold a Glass
Across my Mouth -- it blurs it --
Physician's -- proof of Breath --

I am alive -- because
I am not in a Room --
The Parlor -- Commonly -- it is --
So Visitors may come --

And lean -- and view it sidewise --
And add "How cold -- it grew" --
And "Was it conscious -- when it stepped
In Immortality?"

I am alive -- because
I do not own a House --
Entitled to myself -- precise --
And fitting no one else --

And marked my Girlhood's name --
So Visitors may know
Which Door is mine -- and not

A Night -- there lay the Days between --
The Day that was Before --
And Day that was Behind -- were one --
And now -- 'twas Night -- was here --

Slow -- Night -- that must be watched away --
As Grains upon a shore --
Too imperceptible to note --
Till it be night -- no more --

Except the Heaven had come so near --
So seemed to choose My Door --
The Distance would not haunt me so --
I had not hoped -- before --

But just to hear the Grace depart --
I never thought to see --
Afflicts me with a Double loss --
'Tis lost -- and lost to me --

I am ashamed -- I hide --
What right have I -- to be a Bride --
So late a Dowerless Girl --
Nowhere to hide my dazzled Face --
No one to teach me that new Grace --
Nor introduce -- my Soul --

Me to adorn -- How -- tell --
Trinket -- to make Me beautiful --
Fabrics of Cashmere --
Never a Gown of Dun -- more --
Raiment instead -- of Pompadour --
For Me -- My soul -- to wear --

Fingers -- to frame my Round Hair
Oval -- as Feudal Ladies wore --
Far Fashions -- Fair --
Skill to hold my Brow like an Earl --
Plead -- like a Whippoorwill --
Prove -- like a Pearl --
Then, for Character --
Fashion My Spirit quaint -- white --
Quick -- like a Liquor --
Gay -- like Light --
Bring Me my best Pride --
No more ashamed --
No more to hide --
Meek -- let it be -- too proud -- for Pride --
Baptized -- this Day -- a Bride --

They put Us far apart --
As separate as Sea
And Her unsown Peninsula --
We signified "These see" --

They took away our Eyes --
They thwarted Us with Guns --
"I see Thee" each responded straight
Through Telegraphic Signs --

With Dungeons -- They devised --
But through their thickest skill --
And their opaquest Adamant --
Our Souls saw -- just as well --

They summoned Us to die --
With sweet alacrity
We stood upon our stapled feet --
Condemned -- but just -- to see --

Permission to recant --
Permission to forget --
We turned our backs upon the Sun
For perjury of that --

Not Either -- noticed Death --
Of Paradise -- aware --
Each other's Face -- was all the Disc
Each other's setting -- saw --

Doom is the House without the Door --
'Tis entered from the Sun --
And then the Ladder's thrown away,
Because Escape -- is done --

'Tis varied by the Dream
Of what they do outside --
Where Squirrels play -- and Berries die --
And Hemlocks -- bow -- to God --