The Spirit is the Conscious Ear.
We actually Hear
When We inspect -- that's audible --
That is admitted -- Here --

For other Services -- as Sound --
There hangs a smaller Ear
Outside the Castle -- that Contain --
The other -- only -- Hear --

If He were living -- dare I ask --
And how if He be dead --
And so around the Words I went --
Of meeting them -- afraid --

I hinted Changes -- Lapse of Time --
The Surfaces of Years --
I touched with Caution -- lest they crack --
And show me to my fears --

Reverted to adjoining Lives --
Adroitly turning out
Wherever I suspected Graves --
'Twas prudenter -- I thought --

And He -- I pushed -- with sudden force --
In face of the Suspense --
"Was buried" -- "Buried"! "He!"
My Life just holds the Trench --

Upon Concluded Lives
There's nothing cooler falls --
Than Life's sweet Calculations --
The mixing Bells and Palls --

Make Lacerating Tune --
To Ears the Dying Side --
'Tis Coronal -- and Funeral --
Saluting -- in the Road --

Have any like Myself
Investigating March,
New Houses on the Hill descried --
And possibly a Church --

That were not, We are sure --
As lately as the Snow --
And are Today -- if We exist --
Though how may this be so?

Have any like Myself
Conjectured Who may be
The Occupants of the Adobes --
So easy to the Sky --

'Twould seem that God should be
The nearest Neighbor to --
And Heaven -- a convenient Grace
For Show, or Company --

Have any like Myself
Preserved the Charm secure
By shunning carefully the Place
All Seasons of the Year,

Excepting March -- 'Tis then
My Villages be seen --
And possibly a Steeple --
Not afterward -- by Men --

The Moon was but a Chin of Gold
A Night or two ago --
And now she turns Her perfect Face
Upon the World below --

Her Forehead is of Amplest Blonde --
Her Cheek -- a Beryl hewn --
Her Eye unto the Summer Dew
The likest I have known --

Her Lips of Amber never part --
But what must be the smile
Upon Her Friend she could confer
Were such Her Silver Will --

And what a privilege to be
But the remotest Star --
For Certainty She take Her Way
Beside Your Palace Door --

Her Bonnet is the Firmament --
The Universe -- Her Shoe --
The Stars -- the Trinkets at Her Belt --
Her Dimities -- of Blue --

You said that I "was Great" -- one Day --
Then "Great" it be -- if that please Thee --
Or Small -- or any size at all --
Nay -- I'm the size suit Thee --

Tall -- like the Stag -- would that?
Or lower -- like the Wren --
Or other heights of Other Ones
I've seen?

Tell which -- it's dull to guess --
And I must be Rhinoceros
Or Mouse --
At once -- for Thee --

So say -- if Queen it be --
Or Page -- please Thee --
I'm that -- or nought --
Or other thing -- if other thing there be --
With just this Stipulus --
I suit Thee --

I many times thought Peace had come
When Peace was far away --
As Wrecked Men -- deem they sight the Land --
At Centre of the Sea --

And struggle slacker -- but to prove
As hopelessly as I --
How many the fictitious Shores --
Before the Harbor be --

You taught me Waiting with Myself --
Appointment strictly kept --
You taught me fortitude of Fate --
This -- also -- I have learnt --

An Altitude of Death, that could
No bitterer debar
Than Life -- had done -- before it --
Yet -- there is a Science more --

The Heaven you know -- to understand
That you be not ashamed
Of Me -- in Christ's bright Audience
Upon the further Hand --

Drama's Vitallest Expression is the Common Day
That arise and set about Us --
Other Tragedy

Perish in the Recitation --
This -- the best enact
When the Audience is scattered
And the Boxes shut --

"Hamlet" to Himself were Hamlet --
Had not Shakespeare wrote --
Though the "Romeo" left no Record
Of his Juliet,

It were infinite enacted
In the Human Heart --
Only Theatre recorded
Owner cannot shut --