day

I send Two Sunsets –
Day and I — in competition ran –
I finished Two — and several Stars –
While He — was making One –

His own was ampler — but as I
Was saying to a friend –
Mine — is the more convenient
To Carry in the Hand –

The Doomed — regard the Sunrise
With different Delight –
Because — when next it burns abroad
They doubt to witness it –

The Man — to die — tomorrow –
Harks for the Meadow Bird –
Because its Music stirs the Axe
That clamors for his head –

Joyful — to whom the Sunrise
Precedes Enamored — Day –
Joyful — for whom the Meadow Bird
Has ought but Elegy!

Me, change! Me, alter!
Then I will, when on the Everlasting Hill
A Smaller Purple grows –
At sunset, or a lesser glow
Flickers upon Cordillera –
At Day’s superior close!

To die — takes just a little while –
They say it doesn’t hurt –
It’s only fainter — by degrees –
And then — it’s out of sight –

A darker Ribbon — for a Day –
A Crape upon the Hat –
And then the pretty sunshine comes –
And helps us to forget –

The absent — mystic — creature –
That but for love of us –
Had gone to sleep — that soundest time –
Without the weariness –

The Court is far away –
No Umpire — have I –
My Sovereign is offended –
To gain his grace — I’d die!

I’ll seek his royal feet –
I’ll say — Remember — King –
Thou shalt — thyself — one day — a Child –
Implore a larger — thing –

That Empire — is of Czars –
As small — they say — as I –
Grant me — that day — the royalty –
To intercede — for Thee –

The Flower must not blame the Bee –
That seeketh his felicity
Too often at her door –

But teach the Footman from Vevay –
Mistress is “not at home” — to say –
To people — any more!

A slash of Blue –
A sweep of Gray –
Some scarlet patches on the way,
Compose an Evening Sky –
A little purple — slipped between –
Some Ruby Trousers hurried on –
A Wave of Gold –
A Bank of Day –
This just makes out the Morning Sky.

He was weak, and I was strong -then-
So He let me lead him in
I was weak, and He was strong then
So I let him lead me. Home.

‘Twasn’t far -the door was near-
‘Twasn’t dark -for He went- too
‘Twasn’t loud, for He said nought
That was all I cared to know.

Day knocked -and we must part-
Neither -was strongest- now
He strove -and I strove- too
We didn’t do it -tho’!