Poetessa, nato venerdì 10 dicembre 1830 a Amherst, Massachusetts (USA - Stati Uniti d'America), morto sabato 15 maggio 1886 a Amherst, Massachusetts (USA - Stati Uniti d'America)
I play at Riches - to appease The Clamoring for Gold - It kept me from a Thief, I think, For often, overbold With Want, and Opportunity - I could have done a Sin And been Myself that easy Thing An independent Man -
But often as my lot displays Too hungry to be borne I deem Myself what I would be - And novel Comforting
My Poverty and I derive - We question if the Man - Who own - Esteem the Opulence - As We - Who never Can -
Should ever these exploring Hands Chance Sovreign on a Mine - Or in the long - uneven term To win, become their turn -
How fitter they will be - for Want - Enlightening so well - I know not which, Desire, or Grant - Be wholly beautiful.
I watched the Moon around the House Until upon a Pane - She stopped - a Traveller's privilege - for Rest - And there upon I gazed - as at a Stranger - The Lady in the Town Doth think no incivility To lift her Glass - upon -
But never Stranger justified The Curiosity Like Mine - for not a Foot - nor Hand - Nor Formula - had she -
But like a Head - a Guillotine Slid carelessly away - Did independent, Amber - Sustain her in the sky -
Or like a Stemless Flower - Upheld in rolling Air By finer Gravitations - Than bind Philosopher -
No Hunger - had she - nor an Inn - Her Toilette - to suffice - Nor Avocation - nor Concern For little Mysteries
As harass us - like Life - and Death - And Afterwards - or Nay - But seemed engrossed to Absolute - With Shining - and the Sky -
The privilege to scrutinize Was scarce upon my Eyes When, with a Silver practise - She vaulted out of Gaze -
And next - I met her on a Cloud - Myself too far below To follow her superior Road - Or it's advantage - Blue.
They called me to the Window, for " 'Twas Sunset" - Some one said - I only saw a Sapphire Farm - And just a Single Herd - Of Opal Cattle - feeding far Upon so vain a Hill - As even while I looked - dissolved - Nor Cattle were - nor Soil -
But in their Room - a Sea - displayed - And Ships - of such a size As Crew of Mountains - could afford - And Decks - to seat the Skies -
This - too - the Showman rubbed away - And when I looked again - Nor Farm - nor Opal Herd - was there - Nor Mediterranean.
The Tint I cannot take - is best - The Color too remote That I could show it in Bazaar - A Guinea at a sight - The fine - impalpable Array - That swaggers on the eye Like Cleopatra's Company - Repeated - in the sky -
The Moments of Dominion That happen on the Soul And leave it with a Discontent Too exquisite - to tell -
The eager look - on Landscapes - As if they just repressed Some Secret - that was pushing Like Chariots - in the Vest -
The Pleading of the Summer - That other Prank - of Snow - That Cushions Mystery with Tulle, For fear the Squirrels - know.
Their Graspless manners - mock us - Until the Cheated Eye Shuts arrogantly - in the Grave - Another way - to see.
Only God - detect the Sorrow - Only God - The Jehovahs - are no Babblers - Unto God - God the Son - disclose it - Still secure - God the Spirit's Honor - Just as sure.
'Twas 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 Gaze - A Heaven of Heavens - the Privilege Of One another's Eyes -
No Lifetime - on Them - Appareled as the new Unborn - except They had beheld - Born infiniter - now -
Was Bridal - e'er like This? A Paradise - the Host - And Cherubim - and Seraphim - The unobtrusive Guest.
It was too late for Man - But early, yet, for God - Creation - impotent to help - But Prayer - remained - Our Side - How excellent the Heaven - When Earth - cannot be had - How hospitable - then - the face Of our New Neighbor - God.
To know just how He suffered - would be dear - To know if any Human eyes were near To whom He could entrust His wavering gaze - Until it settle firm - on Paradise - To know if He was patient - part content - Was Dying as He thought - or different - Was it a pleasant Day to die - And did the Sunshine face His way -
What was His furthest mind - Of Home - or God - Or What the Distant say - At news that He ceased Human nature Such a Day -
And Wishes - Had He Any - Just His Sigh - Accented - Had been legible - to Me - And was He Confident until Ill fluttered out - in Everlasting Well -
And if He spoke - What name was Best - What first What One broke off with At the Drowsiest -
Was He afraid - or tranquil - Might He know How Conscious Consciousness - could grow - Till Love that was - and Love too best to be - Meet - and the Junction be Eternity.
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?
It makes no difference abroad - The Seasons - fit - the same - The Mornings blossom into Noons - And split their Pods of Flame - Wild flowers - kindle in the Woods - The Brooks slam - all the Day - No Black bird bates His Banjo - For passing Calvary -
Auto da Fe - and Judgment - Are nothing to the Bee - His separation from His Rose - To Him - sums Misery.