The feet of people walking home
With gayer sandals go -
The Crocus - til she rises
The Vassal of the snow -
The lips at Hallelujah
Long years of practice bore
Till bye and bye these Bargemen
Walked singing on the shore.

Pearls are the Diver's farthings
Extorted from the Sea -
Pinions - the Seraph's wagon
Pedestrian once - as we -

Night is the morning's Canvas
Larceny - legacy -
Death, but our rapt attention
To Immortality.

My figures fail to tell me
How far the Village lies -
Whose peasants are the Angels -
Whose Cantons dot the skies -
My Classics veil their faces -
My faith that Dark adores -
Which from its solemn abbeys
Such resurrection pours.




c. 1858 -------- 1914