A CHARM INVESTS A FACE
A charm invests a face
Imperfectly beheld.
The lady dare not lift her veil
For fear it be dispelled.
But peers beyond her mesh,
And wishes, and denies,
Lest interview annul a want
That image satisfies.
COME SLOWLY
Come slowly, Eden
Lips unused to thee.
Bashful, sip thy jasmines,
As the fainting bee,
Reaching late his flower,
Round her chamber hums,
Counts his nectars -alights,
And is lost in balms!
SUCCESS IS COUNTED SWEETEST
Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne'er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.
Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the Flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of Victory
As he defeated--dying--
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!
I HAVE A BIRD IN SPRING
I have a Bird in spring
Which for myself doth sing-
The spring decoys.
And as the summer nears-
And as the Rose appears,
Robin is gone.Yet do I not repine
Knowing that Bird of mine
Though flown-
Learneth beyond the sea
Melody new for me
And will return.Fast is a safer hand
Held in a truer Land
Are mine-
And though they now depart,
Tell I my doubting heart
They're thine.In a serener Bright,
In a more golden light
I see
Each little doubt and fear,
Each little discord here
Removed.Then will I not repine,
Knowing that Bird of mine
Though flown
Shall in a distant tree
Bright melody for me
Return.
IF I SHOULD DIE
If I should die,
And you should live-
And time should gurgle on-
And morn should beam-
And noon should burn-
As it has usual done-
If Birds should build as early
And Bees as bustling go-
One might depart at option
From enterprise below!
'Tis sweet to know that stocks will stand
When we with Daisies lie-
That Commerce will continue-
And Trades as briskly fly-
It makes the parting tranquil
And keeps the soul serene-
That gentlemen so sprightly
Conduct the pleasing scene!
IF RECOLLECTING WERE FORGETTING
If recollecting were forgetting,
Then I remember not.
And if forgetting, recollecting,
How near I had forgot.
And if to miss, were merry,
And to mourn, were gay,
How very blithe the fingers
That gathered this, Today!
MY WHEEL IS IN THE DARK!
My wheel is in the dark!
I cannot see a spoke
Yet know its dripping feet
Go round and round.My foot is on the Tide!
An unfrequented road-
Yet have all roads
A clearing at the end-Some have resigned the Loom-
Some in the busy tomb
Find quaint employ-Some with new-stately feet-
Pass royal through the gate-
Flinging the problem back
At you and I!
ON THIS WONDROUS SEA
On this wondrous sea
Sailing silently,
Ho! Pilot, ho!
Knowest thou the shore
Where no breakers roar-
Where the storm is o'er?In the peaceful west
Many the sails at rest-
The anchors fast-
Thither I pilot
THERE'S SOMETHING QUIETER THAN SLEEP
On this wondrous sea
There's something quieter than sleep
Within this inner room!
It wears a sprig upon its breast-
And will not tell its name.Some touch it, and some kiss it-
Some chafe its idle hand-
It has a simple gravity
I do not understand!I would not weep if I were they-
How rude in one to sob!
Might scare the quiet fairy
Back to her native wood!While simple-hearted neighbors
Chat of the "Early dead"-
We-prone to periphrasis
Remark that Birds have fled!
WHEN I COUNT THE SEEDS
When I count the seeds
That are sown beneath,
To bloom so, bye and bye-When I con the people
Lain so low,
To be received as high-When I believe the garden
Mortal shall not see-
Pick by faith its blossom
And avoid its Bee,
I can spare this summer, unreluctantly.
ANSWER JULY
Answer July-
Where is the Bee-
Where is the Blush-
Where is the Hay?Ah, said July-
Where is the Seed-
Where is the Bud-
Where is the May-
Answer Thee-Me-Nay-said the May-
Show me the Snow-
Show me the Bells-
Show me the Jay!Quibbled the Jay-
Where be the Maize-
Where be the Haze-
Where be the Bur?
Here-said the Year-
AS IF SOME LITTLE ARCTIC FLOWER
As if some little Arctic flower
Upon the polar hem-
Went wandering down the Latitudes
Until it puzzled came
To continents of summer-
To firmaments of sun-
To strange, bright crowds of flowers-
And birds, of foreign tongue!
I say, As if this little flower
To Eden, wandered in-
What then? Why nothing,
Only, your inference therefrom!
