Deprived of other Banquet,
I entertained Myself --
At first -- a scant nutrition --
An insufficient Loaf --

But grown by slender addings
To so esteemed a size
'Tis sumptuous enough for me --
And almost to suffice

A Robin's famine able --
Red Pilgrim, He and I --
A Berry from our table
Reserve -- for charity --

It is a lonesome Glee --
Yet sanctifies the Mind --
With fair association --
Afar upon the Wind

A Bird to overhear
Delight without a Cause --
Arrestless as invisible --
A matter of the Skies.

If Blame be my side -- forfeit Me --
But doom me not to forfeit Thee --
To forfeit Thee?  The very name
Is sentence from Belief -- and House --

The Color of a Queen, is this --
The Color of a Sun
At setting -- this and Amber --
Beryl -- and this, at Noon --

And when at night -- Auroran widths
Fling suddenly on men --
'Tis this -- and Witchcraft -- nature keeps
A Rank -- for Iodine --

The Loneliness One dare not sound --
And would as soon surmise
As in its Grave go plumbing
To ascertain the size --

The Loneliness whose worst alarm
Is lest itself should see --
And perish from before itself
For just a scrutiny --

The Horror not to be surveyed --
But skirted in the Dark --
With Consciousness suspended --
And Being under Lock --

I fear me this -- is Loneliness --
The Maker of the soul
Its Caverns and its Corridors
Illuminate -- or seal --

This that would greet -- an hour ago --
Is quaintest Distance -- now --
Had it a Guest from Paradise --
Nor glow, would it, nor bow --

Had it a notice from the Noon
Nor beam would it nor warm --
Match me the Silver Reticence --
Match me the Solid Calm --

The Service without Hope --
Is tenderest, I think --
Because 'tis unsustained
By stint -- Rewarded Work --

Has impetus of Gain --
And impetus of Goal --
There is no Diligence like that
That knows not an Until --

The Truth -- is stirless --
Other force -- may be presumed to move --
This -- then -- is best for confidence --
When oldest Cedars swerve --

And Oaks untwist their fists --
And Mountains -- feeble -- lean --
How excellent a Body, that
Stands without a Bone --

How vigorous a Force
That holds without a Prop --
Truth stays Herself -- and every man
That trusts Her -- boldly up --

To wait an Hour -- is long --
If Love be just beyond --
To wait Eternity -- is short --
If Love reward the end --

There is an arid Pleasure --
As different from Joy --
As Frost is different from Dew --
Like element -- are they --

Yet one -- rejoices Flowers --
And one -- the Flowers abhor --
The finest Honey -- curdled --
Is worthless -- to the Bee --

The Birds begun at Four o'clock --
Their period for Dawn --
A Music numerous as space --
But neighboring as Noon --

I could not count their Force --
Their Voices did expend
As Brook by Brook bestows itself
To multiply the Pond.

Their Witnesses were not --
Except occasional man --
In homely industry arrayed --
To overtake the Morn --

Nor was it for applause --
That I could ascertain --
But independent Ecstasy
Of Deity and Men --

By Six, the Flood had done --
No Tumult there had been
Of Dressing, or Departure --
And yet the Band was gone --

The Sun engrossed the East --
The Day controlled the World --
The Miracle that introduced
Forgotten, as fulfilled.

Bereaved of all, I went abroad --
No less bereaved was I
Upon a New Peninsula --
The Grave preceded me --

Obtained my Lodgings, ere myself --
And when I sought my Bed --
The Grave it was reposed upon
The Pillow for my Head --

I waked to find it first awake --
I rose -- It followed me --
I tried to drop it in the Crowd --
To lose it in the Sea --

In Cups of artificial Drowse
To steep its shape away --
The Grave -- was finished -- but the Spade
Remained in Memory --