I’m ceded—I’ve
stopped being their’s
(F353, J 508) (1862)
I'm ceded -- I've stopped being Theirs --The name They dropped upon my faceWith water, in the country churchIs finished using, now,And They can put it with my Dolls,My childhood, and the string of spools,I've finished threading -- too -- Baptized, before, without the choice,But this time, consciously, of Grace --Unto supremest name --Called to my Full -- The Crescent dropped --Existence's whole Arc, filled up,With one small Diadem.
My second Rank -- too small the first --Crowned -- Crowing -- on my Father's breast --A half unconscious Queen --But this time -- Adequate -- Erect,With Will to choose, or to reject,And I choose, just a Crown --
The Soul has Bandaged
moments— (F360,
J512) (1862)
The Soul has Bandaged moments --When too appalled to stir --She feels some ghastly Fright come upAnd stop to look at her -- Salute her -- with long fingers --Caress her freezing hair --Sip, Goblin, from the very lipsThe Lover -- hovered -- o'er --Unworthy, that a thought so meanAccost a Theme -- so -- fair -- The soul has moments of Escape --When bursting all the doors --She dances like a Bomb, abroad,And swings upon the Hours, As do the Bee -- delirious borne --Long Dungeoned from his Rose --Touch Liberty But Noon, and Paradise -- The Soul's retaken moments --When, Felon led along,With shackles on the plumed feet,And staples, in the Song, The Horror welcomes her, again,These, are not brayed of Tongue --
They shut me up in Prose (F 445, J613) (1862)
They shut me up in Prose --As when a little GirlThey put me in the Closet --Because they liked me "still" -- Still! Could themself have peeped --And seen my Brain -- go round --They might as wise have lodged a BirdFor Treason -- in the Pound -- Himself has but to will
And easy as a StarAbolish his Captivity --And laugh -- No more have I --
I dwell in Possibility— (F466, J657) (1862)
I dwell in Possibility --A fairer House than Prose --More numerous of Windows --