Afraid!  Of whom am I afraid?
Not Death -- for who is He?
The Porter of my Father's Lodge
As much abasheth me!

Of Life?  'Twere odd I fear [a] thing
That comprehendeth me
In one or two existences --
As Deity decree --

Of Resurrection?  Is the East
Afraid to trust the Morn
With her fastidious forehead?
As soon impeach my Crown!

I Years had been from Home
And now before the Door
I dared not enter, lest a Face
I never saw before

Stare solid into mine
And ask my Business there --
"My Business but a Life I left
Was such remaining there?"

I leaned upon the Awe --
I lingered with Before --
The Second like an Ocean rolled
And broke against my ear --

I laughed a crumbling Laugh
That I could fear a Door
Who Consternation compassed
And never winced before.

I fitted to the Latch
My Hand, with trembling care
Lest back the awful Door should spring
And leave me in the Floor --

Then moved my Fingers off
As cautiously as Glass
And held my ears, and like a Thief
Fled gasping from the House --

You'll find -- it when you try to die --
The Easier to let go --
For recollecting such as went --
You could not spare -- you know.

And though their places somewhat filled --
As did their Marble names
With Moss -- they never grew so full --
You chose the newer names --

And when this World -- sets further back --
As Dying -- say it does --
The former love -- distincter grows --
And supersedes the fresh --

And Thought of them -- so fair invites --
It looks too tawdry Grace
To stay behind -- with just the Toys
We bought -- to ease their place --

I see thee better -- in the Dark --
I do not need a Light --
The Love of Thee -- a Prism be --
Excelling Violet --

I see thee better for the Years
That hunch themselves between --
The Miner's Lamp -- sufficient be --
To nullify the Mine --

And in the Grave -- I see Thee best --
Its little Panels be
Aglow -- All ruddy -- with the Light
I held so high, for Thee --

What need of Day --
To Those whose Dark -- hath so -- surpassing Sun --
It deem it be -- Continually --
At the Meridian?

It would have starved a Gnat --
To live so small as I --
And yet I was a living Child --
With Food's necessity

Upon me -- like a Claw --
I could no more remove
Than I could coax a Leech away --
Or make a Dragon -- move --

Not like the Gnat -- had I --
The privilege to fly
And seek a Dinner for myself --
How mightier He -- than I --

Nor like Himself -- the Art
Upon the Window Pane
To gad my little Being out --
And not begin -- again --

They shut me up in Prose --
As when a little Girl
They put me in the Closet --
Because they liked me "still" --

Still!  Could themself have peeped --
And seen my Brain -- go round --
They might as wise have lodged a Bird
For Treason -- in the Pound --

Himself has but to will
And easy as a Star
Abolish his Captivity --
And laugh -- No more have I --

In falling Timbers buried --
There breathed a Man --
Outside -- the spades -- were plying --
The Lungs -- within --

Could He -- know -- they sought Him --
Could They -- know -- He breathed --
Horrid Sand Partition --
Neither -- could be heard --

Never slacked the Diggers --
But when Spades had done --
Oh, Reward of Anguish,
It was dying -- Then --

Many Things -- are fruitless --
'Tis a Baffling Earth --
But there is no Gratitude
Like the Grace -- of Death --

Our journey had advanced --
Our feet were almost come
To that odd Fork in Being's Road --
Eternity -- by Term --

Our pace took sudden awe --
Our feet -- reluctant -- led --
Before -- were Cities -- but Between --
The Forest of the Dead --

Retreat -- was out of Hope --
Behind -- a Sealed Route --
Eternity's White Flag -- Before --
And God -- at every Gate --

I rose -- because He sank --
I thought it would be opposite --
But when his power dropped --
My Soul grew straight.

I cheered my fainting Prince --
I sang firm -- even -- Chants --
I helped his Film -- with Hymn --

And when the Dews drew off
That held his Forehead stiff --
I met him --
Balm to Balm --

I told him Best -- must pass
Through this low Arch of Flesh --
No Casque so brave
It spurn the Grave --

I told him Worlds I knew
Where Emperors grew --
Who recollected us
If we were true --

And so with Thews of Hymn --
And Sinew from within --
And ways I knew not that I knew -- till then --
I lifted Him --