|
A Bird came down the Walk--
He did not know I saw--
He bit an Angleworm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw,
And then he drank a Dew
From a convenient Grass--
And then hopped sidewise to the Wall
To let a Beetle pass--
He glanced with rapid eyes
That huried all around--
They looked like frightened Beads, I thought--
He stirred his Velvet Head
Like one in danger, Cautious,
I offered him a Crumb
And he unrolled his feathers
And rowed him softer home--
Than Oars divide the Ocean,
Too silver for a seam--
Or Butterflies, off Banks of Noon
Leap, plashless as they swim.
1862 |
I heard a fly buzz--when I died--
The stillness in the Room
Was like the Stillness in the Air--
Between the Heaves of Storm--
The Eyes around--had wrung them dry--
And Breaths were gathering firm
For that last Onset--when the King
Be witnessed--in the Room--
I willed my Keepsakes--Signed away
What portion of me be
Assignable--and then it was
There interposed a Fly--
With Blue--uncertain stumbling Buzz--
Between the light--and me--
And then the Windows failed--and then
I could not see to see--
1862 |
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 belong to Him who gave it--
Then--to Him Who bear
Its Corporeal illustration--Sell
The Royal Air--
In the Parcel--Be the Merchant
of the Heavenly Grace--
But reduce no Human Spirit
To Disgrace of Price--
1861 |
