Isawwhereintheshrouddidlurk

    AcuriousframeofNature’swork;

    Afloweretcrushdinthebud,

    AnamelesspieceofBabyhood,

    Wasinhercradle-coffinlying;

    Extinct,withscarcethesenseofdying:

    Sosoontoexgetheimprisoningwomb

    Fordarkerclosetsofthetomb!

    Shedidbutopeaneye,andput

    Aclearbeamforth,thenstraightupshut

    Forthelongdark:neermoretosee

    Throughglassesofmortality.

    Riddleofdestiny,whoshow

    Whatthyshortvisitmeant,orknow

    Whatthyerrandherebelow?

    ShallwesaythatNatureblind

    Checkdherhand,andgedhermind,

    Justwhenshehadexactlywrought

    Afinishdpatternwithoutfault?

    Couldsheflag,orcouldshetire,

    OrlackdshethePrometheanfire

    (Withherninemoonslongwssid)

    Thatshouldthylittlelimbshavequid?

    Limbssofirm,theyseemdtoassure

    Lifeofhealth,anddaysmature:

    Womansselfinminiature!

    Limbssofair,theymightsupply

    (Themselvesnowbutagery)

    ThesculptortomakeBeautyby.

    Ordidthesteredescry

    Thatbabeormother,odie;

    Soinmercyleftthestock

    Andcutthebranch;tosavetheshock

    Ofyoungyearswidowd,andthepain

    Whensieesbackagain

    Tothelonemanwho,reftofwife,

    Thenceforwarddragsamaimèdlife?

    TheeyofHeavenisdark,

    Andwisestclerkshavemissdthemark,

    Whyhumanbuds,likethis,shouldfall,

    Morebriefthanflyephemeral

    Thathashisday;whileshrivelldes

    Stiffenwithagetostodstones;

    And