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Posts published in “Poems”

The Robin for the Crumb

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864 The Robin for the Crumb Returns no syllable But long records the Lady’s name In Silver Chronicle.

The Province of the Saved

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539 The Province of the Saved Should be the Art-To save- Through Skill obtained in Themselves- The Science of the Grave No Man can understand But He that hath endured…

The pedigree of honey

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The pedigree of honey Does not concern the bee; A clover, any time, to him Is aristocracy.

The Outer-from the Inner

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The Outer-from the Inner Derives its Magnitude- ‘Tis Duke, or Dwarf, according As is the Central Mood- The fine-unvarying Axis That regulates the Wheel- Though Spokes-spin-more conspicuous And fling a…

The Only News I know

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827 The Only News I know Is Bulletins all Day From Immortality. The Only Shows I see- Tomorrow and Today- Perchance Eternity- The Only One I meet Is God-The Only…

The name-of it-is

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656 The name-of it-is “Autumn”- The hue-of it-is Blood- An Artery-upon the Hill- A Vein-along the Road- Great Globules-in the Alleys- And Oh, the Shower of Stain- When Winds-upset the…

The morns are meeker than they were

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12 The morns are meeker than they were- The nuts are getting brown- The berry’s cheek is plumper- The Rose is out of town. The Maple wears a gayer scarf-…

The Missing All-prevented Me

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985 The Missing All-prevented Me From missing minor Things. If nothing larger than a World’s Departure from a Hinge- Or Sun’s extinction, be observed- ‘Twas not so large that I…

The Malay-took the Pearl

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452 The Malay-took the Pearl- Not-I-the Earl- I-feared the Sea-too much Unsanctified-to touch- Praying that I might be Worthy-the Destiny- The Swarthy fellow swam- And bore my Jewel-Home- Home to…

The Luxury to apprehend

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815 The Luxury to apprehend The Luxury ‘twould be To look at Thee a single time An Epicure of Me In whatsoever Presence makes Till for a further Food I…

The lonesome for they know not What

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262 The lonesome for they know not What- The Eastern Exiles-be- Who strayed beyond the Amber line Some madder Holiday- And ever since-the purple Moat They strive to climb-in vain-…

The Lamp burns sure-within

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233 The Lamp burns sure-within- Tho’ Serfs-supply the Oil- It matters not the busy Wick- At her phosphoric toil! The Slave-forgets-to fill- The Lamp-burns golden-on- Unconscious that the oil is…

The Judge is like the Owl

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699 The Judge is like the Owl- I’ve heard my Father tell- And Owls do build in Oaks- So here’s an Amber Sill- That slanted in my Path- When going…

The Himmaleh was known to stoop

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481 The Himmaleh was known to stoop Unto the Daisy low- Transported with Compassion That such a Doll should grow Where Tent by Tent-Her Universe Hung out its Flags of…

The Grass

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The Grass so little has to do – A Sphere of simple Green – With only Butterflies to brood And Bees to entertain – And stir all day to pretty…

The Gentian weaves her fringes

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18 The Gentian weaves her fringes- The Maple’s loom is red- My departing blossoms     Obviate parade. A brief, but patient illness- An hour to prepare, And one below…

The face I carry with me-last

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336 The face I carry with me-last- When I go out of Time- To take my Rank-by-in the West- That face-will just be thine- I’ll hand it to the Angel-…

The dying need but little, dear,–

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The dying need but little, dear,—   A glass of water’s all, A flower’s unobtrusive face   To punctuate the wall, A fan, perhaps, a friend’s regret,   And certainly…

The Dust behind I strove to join

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992 The Dust behind I strove to join Unto the Disk before- But Sequence ravelled out of Sound Like Balls upon a Floor-

The cricket sang,

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The cricket sang, And set the sun, And workmen finished, one by one,   Their seam the day upon. The low grass loaded with the dew, The twilight stood as…

The Color of a Queen, is this

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776 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-…

The Chariot

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Because I could not stop for Death, He kindly stopped for me; The carriage held but just ourselves And Immortality. We slowly drove, he knew no haste, And I had…

The Body grows without

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578 The Body grows without- The more convenient way- That if the Spirit-like to hide Its Temple stands, alway, Ajar-secure-inviting- It never did betray The Soul that asked its shelter…

The Black Berry-wears a Thorn in his side

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The Black Berry-wears a Thorn in his side- But no Man heard Him cry- He offers His Berry, just the same To Partridge-and to Boy- He sometimes holds upon the…

The Bible is an antique Volume

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1545 The Bible is an antique Volume- Written by faded men At the suggestion of Holy Spectres- Subjects-Bethlehem- Eden-the ancient Homestead- Satan-the Brigadier- Judas-the Great Defaulter- David-the Troubadour- Sin-a distinguished…

The Bee is not afraid

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The Bee is not afraid of me. I know the Butterfly. The pretty people in the Woods Receive me cordially- The Brooks laugh louder when I come- The Breezes madder…

The Bee

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Like trains of cars on tracks of plush I hear the level bee: A jar across the flowers goes, Their velvet masonry Withstands until the sweet assault Their chivalry consumes,…

The Angle of a Landscape

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375 The Angle of a Landscape- That every time I wake- Between my Curtain and the Wall Upon an ample Crack- Like a Venetian-waiting- Accosts my open eye- Is just…

That is solemn we have ended

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934 That is solemn we have ended Be it but a Play Or a Glee among the Garret Or a Holiday Or a leaving Home, or later, Parting with a…

That Distance was between Us

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863 That Distance was between Us That is not of Mile or Main- The Will it is that situates- Equator-never can-

That after Horror-that ’twas us

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286 That after Horror-that ’twas us- That passed the mouldering Pier- Just as the Granite Crumb let go- Our Savior, by a Hair- A second more, had dropped too deep…

Taking up the fair Ideal

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428 Taking up the fair Ideal, Just to cast her down When a fracture-we discover- Or a splintered Crown- Makes the Heavens portable- And the Gods-a lie- Doubtless-“Adam”-scowled at Eden-…

Surrender

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Doubt me, my dim companion! Why, God would be content With but a fraction of the love Poured thee without a stint. The whole of me, forever, What more the…

Strong Draughts of Their Refreshing Minds

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711 Strong Draughts of Their Refreshing Minds To drink-enables Mine Through Desert or the Wilderness As bore it Sealed Wine- To go elastic-Or as One The Camel’s trait-attained- How powerful…

Speech-is a prank of Parliament-

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“Speech”-is a prank of Parliament- “Tears”-is a trick of the nerve- But the Heart with the heaviest freight on- Doesn’t-always-move-

Soto! Explore Thyself!

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832 Soto! Explore thyself! Therein thyself shalt find The “Undiscovered Continent”- No Settler had the Mind.

Some things that fly there be

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89 Some things that fly there be- Birds-Hours-the Bumblebee- Of these no Elegy. Some things that stay there be- Grief-Hills-Eternity- Nor this behooveth me. There are that resting, rise. Can…

Soil of Flint, if steady tilled

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681 Soil of Flint, if steady tilled- Will refund by Hand- Seed of Palm, by Libyan Sun Fructified in Sand-

So well that I can live without

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456 So well that I can live without- I love thee-then How well is that? As well as Jesus? Prove it me That He-loved Men- As I-love thee-

So proud she was to die

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So proud she was to die   It made us all ashamed That what we cherished, so unknown   To her desire seemed. So satisfied to go   Where none…

So has a Daisy vanished

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28 So has a Daisy vanished From the fields today- So tiptoed many a slipper To Paradise away- Oozed so in crimson bubbles Day’s departing tide- Blooming-tripping-flowing Are ye then…

So from the mould

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66 So from the mould Scarlet and Gold Many a Bulb will rise- Hidden away, cunningly, From sagacious eyes. So from Cocoon Many a Worm Leap so Highland gay, Peasants…

So bashful when I spied her,

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So bashful when I spied her, So pretty, so ashamed! So hidden in her leaflets, Lest anybody find; So breathless till I passed her, So helpless when I turned And…

Size circumscribes-it has no room

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641 Size circumscribes-it has no room For petty furniture- The Giant tolerates no Gnat For Ease of Gianture- Repudiates it, all the more- Because intrinsic size Ignores the possibility Of…

Sic transit gloria mundi

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3 “Sic transit gloria mundi,”  ”How doth the busy bee,” “Dum vivimus vivamus,”  I stay mine enemy! Oh “veni, vidi, vici!”  Oh caput cap-a-pie! And oh “memento mori”  When I…

Shells from the Coast mistaking

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693 Shells from the Coast mistaking- I cherished them for All- Happening in After Ages To entertain a Pearl- Wherefore so late-I murmured- My need of Thee-be done- Therefore-the Pearl…

She went as quiet as the Dew

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149 She went as quiet as the Dew From an Accustomed flower. Not like the Dew, did she return At the Accustomed hour! She dropt as softly as a star…

She sweeps with many-colored brooms,

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She sweeps with many-colored brooms, And leaves the shreds behind; Oh, housewife in the evening west, Come back, and dust the pond! You dropped a purple ravelling in, You dropped…

She staked her Feathers-Gained an Arc

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798 She staked her Feathers-Gained an Arc- Debated-Rose again- This time-beyond the estimate Of Envy, or of Men- And now, among Circumference- Her steady Boat be seen- At home-among the…

She hideth Her the last

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557 She hideth Her the last- And is the first, to rise- Her Night doth hardly recompense The Closing of Her eyes- She doth Her Purple Work- And putteth Her…

She dwelleth in the Ground

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671 She dwelleth in the Ground- Where Daffodils-abide- Her Maker-Her Metropolis- The Universe-Her Maid- To fetch Her Grace-and Hue- And Fairness-and Renown- The Firmament’s-To Pluck Her- And fetch Her Thee-be…

She died-this was the way she died

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150 She died-this was the way she died. And when her breath was done Took up her simple wardrobe And started for the sun. Her little figure at the gate…

She bore it till the simple veins

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144 She bore it till the simple veins Traced azure on her hand- Til pleading, round her quiet eyes The purple Crayons stand. Till Daffodils had come and gone I…

Severer Service of myself

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786 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-…

Savior! I’ve no one else to tell

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217 Savior! I’ve no one else to tell- And so I trouble thee. I am the one forgot thee so- Dost thou remember me? Nor, for myself, I came so…

Safe in their alabaster chambers,

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Safe in their alabaster chambers, Untouched by morning and untouched by noon, Sleep the meek members of the resurrection, Rafter of satin, and roof of stone. Light laughs the breeze…

Resurrection

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‘T was a long parting, but the time For interview had come; Before the judgment-seat of God, The last and second time These fleshless lovers met, A heaven in a…

Renunciation

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Renunciation — is a piercing Virtue — The letting go A Presence — for an Expectation — Not now — The putting out of Eyes — Just Sunrise — Lest…

Removed from Accident of Loss

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424 Removed from Accident of Loss By Accident of Gain Befalling not my simple Days- Myself had just to earn- Of Riches-as unconscious As is the Brown Malay Of Pearls…

Rehearsal to Ourselves

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379 Rehearsal to Ourselves Of a Withdrawn Delight- Affords a Bliss like Murder- Omnipotent-Acute- We will not drop the Dirk- Because We love the Wound The Dirk Commemorate-Itself Remind Us…

Rearrange a “Wife’s” affection!

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Rearrange a “Wife’s” affection! When they dislocate my Brain! Amputate my freckled Bosom! Make me bearded like a man! Blush, my spirit, in thy Fastness — Blush, my unacknowledged clay…

Put up my lute!

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261 Put up my lute! What of-my Music! Since the sole ear I cared to charm- Passive-as Granite-laps My Music- Sobbing-will suit-as well as psalm! Would but the “Memnon” of…

Publication-is the Auction

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Publication-is the Auction Of the Mind of Man- Poverty-be justifying For so foul a thing Possibly-but We-would rather From Our Garret go White-Unto the White Creator- Than invest-Our Snow- Thought…

Proof

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That I did always love, I bring thee proof: That till I loved I did not love enough. That I shall love always, offer thee That love is life, And…

Promise This-When You be Dying

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648 Promise This-When You be Dying- Some shall summon Me- Mine belong Your latest Sighing- Mine-to Belt Your Eye- Not with Coins-though they be Minted From an Emperor’s Hand- Be…

Precious to Me-She still shall be

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727 Precious to Me-She still shall be- Though She forget the name I bear- The fashion of the Gown I wear- The very Color of My Hair- So like the…

Pigmy seraphs-gone astray

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138 Pigmy seraphs-gone astray- Velvet people from Vevay- Balles from some lost summer day- Bees exclusive Coterie- Paris could not lay the fold Belted down with Emerald- Venice could not…

Perhaps you think me stooping

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833 Perhaps you think me stooping I’m not ashamed of that Christ-stooped until He touched the Grave- Do those at Sacrament Commemorative Dishonor Or love annealed of love Until it…

Perhaps I Asked Too Large

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Perhaps I asked too large — I take — no less than skies — For Earths, grow thick as Berries, in my native town — My Basked holds — just…

Partake as doth the Bee

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994 Partake as doth the Bee, Abstemiously. The Rose is an Estate- In Sicily.

Papa above!

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61 Papa above! Regard a Mouse O’erpowered by the Cat! Reserve within thy kingdom A “Mansion” for the Rat! Snug in seraphic Cupboards To nibble all the day While unsuspecting…

Over the fence

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251 Over the fence- Strawberries-grow- Over the fence- I could climb-if I tried, I know- Berries are nice! But-if I stained my Apron- God would certainly scold! Oh, dear,-I guess…

Over and over, like a Tune

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367 Over and over, like a Tune- The Recollection plays- Drums off the Phantom Battlements Cornets of Paradise- Snatches, from Baptized Generations- Cadences too grand But for the Justified Processions…

Out of sight? What of that?

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703 Out of sight? What of that? See the Bird-reach it! Curve by Curve-Sweep by Sweep- Round the Steep Air- Danger! What is that to Her? Better ’tis to fail-there-…

Only a Shrine, but Mine

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918 Only a Shrine, but Mine- I made the Taper shine- Madonna dim, to whom all Feet may come, Regard a Nun- Thou knowest every Woe- Needless to tell thee-so-…

One need not be a chamber to be haunted,

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One need not be a chamber to be haunted, One need not be a house; The brain has corridors surpassing Material place. Far safer, of a midnight meeting External ghost,…

One dignity delays for all

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98 One dignity delays for all- One mitred Afternoon- None can avoid this purple- None evade this Crown! Coach, it insures, and footmen- Chamber, and state, and throng- Bells, also,…

One Crucifixion is recorded-only

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553 One Crucifixion is recorded-only- How many be Is not affirmed of Mathematics- Or History- One Calvary-exhibited to Stranger- As many be As persons-or Peninsulas- Gethsemane- Is but a Province-in…

One Blessing had I than the rest

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756 One Blessing had I than the rest So larger to my Eyes That I stopped gauging-satisfied- For this enchanted size- It was the limit of my Dream- The focus…

One Anguish-in a Crowd

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565 One Anguish-in a Crowd- A Minor thing-it sounds- And yet, unto the single Doe Attempted of the Hounds ‘Tis Terror as consummate As Legions of Alarm Did leap, full…

One and One-are One

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769 One and One-are One- Two-be finished using- Well enough for Schools- But for Minor Choosing- Life-just-or Death- Or the Everlasting- More-would be too vast For the Soul’s Comprising-

Once more, my now bewildered Dove

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48 Once more, my now bewildered Dove Bestirs her puzzled wings Once more her mistress, on the deep Her troubled question flings- Thrice to the floating casement The Patriarch’s bird…

On a Columnar Self

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789 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…

Of Tribulation, these are They

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325 Of Tribulation, these are They, Denoted by the White- The Spangled Gowns, a lesser Rank Of Victors-designate- All these-did conquer- But the ones who overcame most times- Wear nothing…

Of Tolling Bell I ask the cause?

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947 Of Tolling Bell I ask the cause? “A Soul has gone to Heaven” I’m answered in a lonesome tone- Is Heaven then a Prison? That Bells should ring till…

Of Silken Speech and Specious Shoe

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896 Of Silken Speech and Specious Shoe A Traitor is the Bee His service to the newest Grace Present continually His Suit a chance His Troth a Term Protracted as…

Of Brussels-it was not

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602 Of Brussels-it was not- Of Kidderminster? Nay- The Winds did buy it of the Woods- They-sold it unto me It was a gentle price- The poorest-could afford- It was…

Of Bronze-and Blaze

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290 Of Bronze-and Blaze- The North-Tonight- So adequate-it forms- So preconcerted with itself- So distant-to alarms- And Unconcern so sovereign To Universe, or me- Infects my simple spirit With Taints…

Not that We did, shall be the test

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823 Not that We did, shall be the test When Act and Will are done But what Our Lord infers We would Had We diviner been-

Not

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Not “Revelation”-’tis-that waits, But our unfurnished eyes-

No Rack can torture me

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384 No Rack can torture me- My Soul-at Liberty- Behind this mortal Bone There knits a bolder One- You cannot prick with saw- Nor pierce with Scimitar- Two Bodies-therefore be-…

No Other can reduce

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982 No Other can reduce Our mortal Consequence Like the remembering it be nought A Period from hence But Contemplation for Contemporaneous Nought Our Single Competition Jehovah’s Estimate.

No Notice gave She, but a Change

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No Notice gave She, but a Change — No Message, but a Sigh — For Whom, the Time did not suffice That She should specify. She was not warm, though…

No matter-now-Sweet

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704 No matter-now-Sweet- But when I’m Earl- Won’t you wish you’d spoken To that dull Girl? Trivial a Word-just- Trivial-a Smile- But won’t you wish you’d spared one When I’m…

No Crowd that has occurred

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515 No Crowd that has occurred Exhibit-I suppose That General Attendance That Resurrection-does- Circumference be full- The long restricted Grave Assert her Vital Privilege- The Dust-connect-and live- On Atoms-features place-…

No Bobolink-reverse His Singing

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755 No Bobolink-reverse His Singing When the only Tree Ever He minded occupying By the Farmer be- Clove to the Root- His Spacious Future- Best Horizon-gone- Whose Music be His…

Myself was formed-a Carpenter

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488 Myself was formed-a Carpenter- An unpretending time My Plane-and I, together wrought Before a Builder came- To measure our attainments- Had we the Art of Boards Sufficiently developed-He’d hire…

My Worthiness is all my Doubt

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751 My Worthiness is all my Doubt- His Merit-all my fear- Contrasting which, my quality Do lowlier-appear- Lest I should insufficient prove For His beloved Need- The Chiefest Apprehension Upon…

My wheel is in the dark

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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…

My Reward for Being, was This

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343 My Reward for Being, was This. My premium-My Bliss- An Admiralty, less- A Sceptre-penniless- And Realms-just Dross- When Thrones accost my Hands- With “Me, Miss, Me”- I’ll unroll Thee-…