How the old Mountains drip with Sunset
How the Hemlocks burn-
How the Dun Brake is draped in Cinder
By the Wizard Sun-

How the old Steeples hand the Scarlet
Till the Ball is full-
Have I the lip of the Flamingo
That I dare to tell?

Then, how the Fire ebbs like Billows-
Touching all the Grass
With a departing-Sapphire-feature-
As a Duchess passed-

How a small Dusk crawls on the Village
Till the Houses blot
And the odd Flambeau, no men carry
Glimmer on the Street-

How it is Night-in Nest and Kennel-
And where was the Wood-
Just a Dome of Abyss is Bowing
Into Solitude-

These are the Visions flitted Guido-
Titian-never told-
Domenichino dropped his pencil-
Paralyzed, with Gold-

How the Waters closed above Him
We shall never know-
How He stretched His Anguish to us
That-is covered too-

Spreads the Pond Her Base of Lilies
Bold above the Boy
Whose unclaimed Hat and Jacket
Sum the History-

How well I knew Her not
Whom not to know has been
A Bounty in prospective, now
Next Door to mine the Pain.

I am alive-I guess-
The Branches on my Hand
Are full of Morning Glory-
And at my finger's end-

The Carmine-tingles warm-
And if I hold a Glass
Across my Mouth-it blurs it-
Physician's-proof of Breath-

I am alive-because
I am not in a Room-
The Parlor-Commonly-it is-
So Visitors may come-

And lean-and view it sidewise-
And add "How cold-it grew"-
And "Was it conscious-when it stepped
In Immortality?"

I am alive-because
I do not own a House-
Entitled to myself-precise-
And fitting no one else-

And marked my Girlhood's name-
So Visitors may know
Which Door is mine-and not

I am ashamed-I hide-
What right have I-to be a Bride-
So late a Dowerless Girl-
Nowhere to hide my dazzled Face-
No one to teach me that new Grace-
Nor introduce-my Soul-

Me to adorn-How-tell-
Trinket-to make Me beautiful-
Fabrics of Cashmere-
Never a Gown of Dun-more-
Raiment instead-of Pompadour-
For Me-My soul-to wear-

Fingers-to frame my Round Hair
Oval-as Feudal Ladies wore-
Far Fashions-Fair-
Skill to hold my Brow like an Earl-
Plead-like a Whippoorwill-
Prove-like a Pearl-
Then, for Character-
Fashion My Spirit quaint-white-
Quick-like a Liquor-
Gay-like Light-
Bring Me my best Pride-
No more ashamed-
No more to hide-
Meek-let it be-too proud-for Pride-
Baptized-this Day-a Bride-

I asked no other thing-
No other-was denied-
I offered Being-for it-
The Mighty Merchant sneered-

Brazil? He twirled a Button-
Without a glance my way-
"But-Madam-is there nothing else-
That We can show-Today?"

I breathed enough to learn the trick,
And now, removed from air,
I simulate the breath so well,
That one, to be quite sure

The lungs are stirless, must descend
Among the cunning cells,
And touch the pantomime himself.
How cool the bellows feels!

I bring an unaccustomed wine
To lips long parching
Next to mine,
And summon them to drink;

Crackling with fever, they Essay,
I turn my brimming eyes away,
And come next hour to look.

The hands still hug the tardy glass-
The lips I would have cooled, alas-
Are so superfluous Cold-

I would as soon attempt to warm
The bosoms where the frost has lain
Ages beneath the mould-

Some other thirsty there may be
To whom this would have pointed me
Had it remained to speak-

And so I always bear the cup
If, haply, mine may be the drop
Some pilgrim thirst to slake-

If, haply, any say to me
"Unto the little, unto me,"
When I at last awake.

I Came to buy a smile-today-
But just a single smile-
The smallest one upon your face
Will suit me just as well-
The one that no one else would miss
It shone so very small-
I'm pleading at the "counter"-sir-
Could you afford to sell-
I've Diamonds-on my fingers-
You know what Diamonds are?
I've Rubies-live the Evening Blood-
And Topaz-like the star!
'Twould be "a Bargain" for a Jew!
Say-may I have it-Sir?

I can wade Grief-
Whole Pools of it-
I'm used to that-
But the least push of Joy
Breaks up my feet-
And I tip-drunken-
Let no Pebble-smile-
'Twas the New Liquor-
That was all!

Power is only Pain-
Stranded, thro' Discipline,
Till Weights-will hang-
Give Balm-to Giants-
And they'll wilt, like Men-
Give Himmaleh-
They'll Carry-Him!