I tie my Hat I crease my Shawl
I tie my Hat I crease my Shawl
Life’s little duties do precisely
As the very least
Were infinite to me
I put new Blossoms in the Glass
And throw the old away
I push a petal from my gown
That anchored there I weigh
The time ’twill be till six o’clock
I have so much to do
And yet Existence some way back
Stopped struck my ticking through
We cannot put Ourself away
As a completed Man
Or Woman When the Errand’s done
We came to Flesh upon
There may be Miles on Miles of Nought
Of Action sicker far
To simulate is stinging work
To cover what we are
From Science and from Surgery
Too Telescopic Eyes
To bear on us unshaded
For their sake not for Ours
‘Twould start them
We could tremble
But since we got a Bomb
And held it in our Bosom
Nay Hold it it is calm
Therefore we do life’s labor
Though life’s Reward be done
With scrupulous exactness
To hold our Senses on
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