They have a little Odor -- that to me
Is metre -- nay -- 'tis melody --
And spiciest at fading -- indicate --
A Habit -- of a Laureate --

Severer Service of myself
I -- hastened to demand
To fill the awful Vacuum
Your life had left behind --

I worried Nature with my Wheels
When Hers had ceased to run --
When she had put away Her Work
My own had just begun.

I strove to weary Brain and Bone --
To harass to fatigue
The glittering Retinue of nerves --
Vitality to clog

To some dull comfort Those obtain
Who put a Head away
They knew the Hair to --
And forget the color of the Day --

Affliction would not be appeased --
The Darkness braced as firm
As all my stratagem had been
The Midnight to confirm --

No Drug for Consciousness -- can be --
Alternative to die
Is Nature's only Pharmacy
For Being's Malady --

Such is the Force of Happiness --
The Least -- can lift a Ton
Assisted by its stimulus --

Who Misery -- sustain --
No Sinew can afford --
The Cargo of Themselves --
Too infinite for Consciousness'
Slow capabilities.

Joy to have merited the Pain --
To merit the Release --
Joy to have perished every step --
To Compass Paradise --

Pardon -- to look upon thy face --
With these old fashioned Eyes --
Better than new -- could be -- for that --
Though bought in Paradise --

Because they looked on thee before --
And thou hast looked on them --
Prove Me -- My Hazel Witnesses
The features are the same --

So fleet thou wert, when present --
So infinite -- when gone --
An Orient's Apparition --
Remanded of the Morn --

The Height I recollect --
'Twas even with the Hills --
The Depth upon my Soul was notched --
As Floods -- on Whites of Wheels --

To Haunt -- till Time have dropped
His last Decade away,
And Haunting actualize -- to last
At least -- Eternity --

On a Columnar Self --
How ample to rely
In Tumult -- or Extremity --
How good the Certainty

That Lever cannot pry --
And Wedge cannot divide
Conviction -- That Granitic Base --
Though None be on our Side --

Suffice Us -- for a Crowd --
Ourself -- and Rectitude --
And that Assembly -- not far off
From furthest Spirit -- God --

Nature -- the Gentlest Mother is,
Impatient of no Child --
The feeblest -- or the waywardest --
Her Admonition mild --

In Forest -- and the Hill --
By Traveller -- be heard --
Restraining Rampant Squirrel --
Or too impetuous Bird --

How fair Her Conversation --
A Summer Afternoon --
Her Household -- Her Assembly --
And when the Sung go down --

Her Voice among the Aisles
Incite the timid prayer
Of the minutest Cricket --
The most unworthy Flower --

When all the Children sleep --
She turns as long away
As will suffice to light Her lamps --
Then bending from the Sky --

With infinite Affection --
And infiniter Care --
Her Golden finger on Her lip --
Wills Silence -- Everywhere --

God gave a Loaf to every Bird --
But just a Crumb -- to Me --
I dare not eat it -- tho' I starve --
My poignant luxury --

To own it -- touch it --
Prove the feat -- that made the Pellet mine --
Too happy -- for my Sparrow's chance --
For Ampler Coveting --

It might be Famine -- all around --
I could not miss an Ear --
Such Plenty smiles upon my Board --
My Garner shows so fair --

I wonder how the Rich -- may feel --
An Indiaman -- An Earl --
I deem that I -- with but a Crumb --
Am Sovereign of them all --

Through the strait pass of suffering --
The Martyrs -- even -- trod.
Their feet -- upon Temptations --
Their faces -- upon God --

A stately -- shriven -- Company --
Convulsion -- playing round --
Harmless -- as streaks of Meteor --
Upon a Planet's Bond --

Their faith -- the everlasting troth --
Their Expectation -- fair --
The Needle -- to the North Degree --
Wades -- so -- thro' polar Air!

Grief is a Mouse --
And chooses Wainscot in the Breast
For His Shy House --
And baffles quest --

Grief is a Thief -- quick startled --
Pricks His Ear -- report to hear
Of that Vast Dark --
That swept His Being -- back --

Grief is a Juggler -- boldest at the Play --
Lest if He flinch -- the eye that way
Pounce on His Bruises -- One -- say -- or Three --
Grief is a Gourmand -- spare His luxury --

Best Grief is Tongueless -- before He'll tell --
Burn Him in the Public Square --
His Ashes -- will
Possibly -- if they refuse -- How then know --
Since a Rack couldn't coax a syllable -- now.