mine

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 –

Unto like Story — Trouble has enticed me –
How Kinsmen fell –
Brothers and Sister — who preferred the Glory –
And their young will
Bent to the Scaffold, or in Dungeons — chanted –
Till God’s full time –
When they let go the ignominy — smiling –
And Shame went still –

Unto guessed Crests, my moaning fancy, leads me,
Worn fair
By Heads rejected — in the lower country –
Of honors there –
Such spirit makes her perpetual mention,
That I — grown bold –
Step martial — at my Crucifixion –
As Trumpets — rolled –

Feet, small as mine — have marched in Revolution
Firm to the Drum –
Hands — not so stout — hoisted them — in witness –
When Speech went numb –
Let me not shame their sublime deportments –
Drilled bright –
Beckoning — Etruscan invitation –
Toward Light –

A single Screw of Flesh
Is all that pins the Soul
That stands for Deity, to Mine,
Upon my side the Veil –

Once witnessed of the Gauze –
Its name is put away
As far from mine, as if no plight
Had printed yesterday,

In tender — solemn Alphabet,
My eyes just turned to see,
When it was smuggled by my sight
Into Eternity –

More Hands — to hold — These are but Two –
One more new-mailed Nerve
Just granted, for the Peril’s sake –
Some striding — Giant — Love –

So greater than the Gods can show,
They slink before the Clay,
That not for all their Heaven can boast
Will let its Keepsake — go

You see I cannot see — your lifetime –
I must guess –
How many times it ache for me — today — Confess –
How many times for my far sake
The brave eyes film –
But I guess guessing hurts –
Mine — got so dim!

Too vague — the face –
My own — so patient — covers –
Too far — the strength –
My timidness enfolds –
Haunting the Heart –
Like her translated faces –
Teasing the want –
It — only — can suffice!

A Burdock — clawed my Gown –
Not Burdock’s — blame –
But mine –
Who went too near
The Burdock’s Den –

A Bog — affronts my shoe –
What else have Bogs — to do –
The only Trade they know –
The splashing Men!
Ah, pity — then!

‘Tis Minnows can despise!
The Elephant’s — calm eyes
Look further on!

I had some things that I called mine –
And God, that he called his,
Till, recently a rival Claim
Disturbed these amities.

The property, my garden,
Which having sown with care,
He claims the pretty acre,
And sends a Bailiff there.

The station of the parties
Forbids publicity,
But Justice is sublimer
Than arms, or pedigree.

I’ll institute an “Action” –
I’ll vindicate the law –
Jove! Choose your counsel –
I retain “Shaw”!