“Fame is a fickle food upon a shifting plate. ”

“Fame is a bee.It has a song -It has a sting -Ah, too, it has a wing.”

“There is a pain so utter, it swallows being up; The covers the abyss with a tranceSo memory can step around, across, upon it.”

“If the stillness is VolcanicIn the human faceWhen upon a pain TitanicFeatures keep their place-If at length the smoldering anguishWill not overcome-And the palpitating VinyardIn the dust, be overthrown?”

“The bustle in a houseThe morning after deathIs solemnest of industriesEnacted upon earth,--The sweeping up the heart,And putting love awayWe shall not want to use againUntil eternity”

“It might be lonelierWithout the Loneliness —I'm so accustomed to my Fate —Perhaps the Other — Peace —Would interrupt the Dark —And crowd the little Room —Too scant — by Cubits — to containThe Sacrament — of Him —I am not used to Hope —It might intrude upon —Its sweet parade — blaspheme the place —Ordained to Suffering —It might be easierTo fail — with Land in Sight —Than gain — My Blue Peninsula —To perish — of Delight — F535 (1863) J405”

“It was a quiet way -He asked if I was his -I made no answer of the tongueBut answer of the eyes -And then He bore me onBefore this mortal noiseWith swiftness, as of Chariotsand distance, as of Wheels.This World did drop awayAs acres from the feetof one that leaneth from BalloonUpon an Ether Street.The Gulf behind was not,The Continents were new -Eternity was due.No Seasons were to us -It was not Night nor Morn -But Sunrise stopped upon the placeAnd Fastened in Dawn.”