I took my Power in my Hand --
And went against the World --
'Twas not so much as David -- had --
But I -- was twice as bold --

I aimed by Pebble -- but Myself
Was all the one that fell --
Was it Goliath -- was too large --
Or was myself -- too small?

Some such Butterfly be seen
On Brazilian Pampas --
Just at noon -- no later -- Sweet --
Then -- the License closes --

Some such Spice -- express and pass --
Subject to Your Plucking --
As the Stars -- You knew last Night --
Foreigners -- This Morning --

I had no Cause to be awake --
My Best -- was gone to sleep --
And Morn a new politeness took --
And failed to wake them up --

But called the others -- clear --
And passed their Curtains by --
Sweet Morning -- when I oversleep --
Knock -- Recollect -- to Me --

I looked at Sunrise -- Once --
And then I looked at Them --
And wishfulness in me arose --
For Circumstance the same --

'Twas such an Ample Peace --
It could not hold a Sigh --
'Twas Sabbath -- with the Bells divorced --
'Twas Sunset -- all the Day --

So choosing but a Gown --
And taking but a Prayer --
The only Raiment I should need --
I struggled -- and was There --

I fear a Man of frugal Speech --
I fear a Silent Man --
Haranguer -- I can overtake --
Or Babbler -- entertain --

But He who weigheth -- While the Rest --
Expend their furthest pound --
Of this Man -- I am wary --
I fear that He is Grand --

The Martyr Poets -- did not tell --
But wrought their Pang in syllable --
That when their mortal name be numb --
Their mortal fate -- encourage Some --

The Martyr Painters -- never spoke --
Bequeathing -- rather -- to their Work --
That when their conscious fingers cease --
Some seek in Art -- the Art of Peace --

'Tis One by One -- the Father counts --
And then a Tract between
Set Cypherless -- to teach the Eye
The Value of its Ten --

Until the peevish Student
Acquire the Quick of Skill --
Then Numerals are dowered back --
Adorning all the Rule --

'Tis mostly Slate and Pencil --
And Darkness on the School
Distracts the Children's fingers --
Still the Eternal Rule

Regards least Cypherer alike
With Leader of the Band --
And every separate Urchin's Sum --
Is fashioned for his hand --

To fill a Gap
Insert the Thing that caused it --
Block it up
With Other -- and 'twill yawn the more --
You cannot solder an Abyss
With Air.

I've seen a Dying Eye
Run round and round a Room --
In search of Something -- as it seemed --
Then Cloudier become --
And then -- obscure with Fog --
And then -- be soldered down
Without disclosing what it be
'Twere blessed to have seen --

Death is potential to that Man
Who dies -- and to his friend --
Beyond that -- unconspicuous
To Anyone but God --

Of these Two -- God remembers
The longest -- for the friend --
Is integral -- and therefore
Itself dissolved -- of God --

That I did always love
I bring thee Proof
That till I loved
I never lived -- Enough --

That I shall love alway --
I argue thee
That love is life --
And life hath Immortality --

This -- dost thou doubt -- Sweet --
Then have I
Nothing to show
But Calvary --

I cross till I am weary
A Mountain -- in my mind --
More Mountains -- then a Sea --
More Seas -- And then
A Desert -- find --

And My Horizon blocks
With steady -- drifting -- Grains
Of unconjectured quantity --
As Asiatic Rains --

Nor this -- defeat my Pace --
It hinder from the West
But as an Enemy's Salute
One hurrying to Rest --

What merit had the Goal --
Except there intervene
Faint Doubt -- and far Competitor --
To jeopardize the Gain?

At last -- the Grace in sight --
I shout unto my feet --
I offer them the Whole of Heaven
The instant that we meet --

They strive -- and yet delay --
They perish -- Do we die --
Or is this Death's Experiment --
Reversed -- in Victory?