By The Sea. Heaven. Knows how to forget!

1)By The Sea

I started early, took my dog,
And visited the sea;
The mermaids in the basement
Came out to look at me.

And frigates in the upper floor
Extended hempen hands,
Presuming me to be a mouse
Aground, upon the sands.

But no man moved me till the tide
Went past my simple shoe,
And past my apron and my belt,
And past my bodice too,

And made as he would eat me up
As wholly as a dew
Upon a dandelion's sleeve
And then I started too.

And he he followed close behind;
I felt his silver heel
Upon my ankle, then my shoes
Would overflow with pearl.

Until we met the solid town,
No man he seemed to know;
And bowing with a mighty look
At me, the sea withdrew.

2) Heaven

"Heaven" has different Signs to me
Sometimes, I think that Noon
Is but a symbol of the Place
And when again, at Dawn,

A mighty look runs round the World
And settles in the Hills
An Awe if it should be like that
Upon the Ignorance steals

The Orchard, when the Sun is on
The Triumph of the Birds
When they together Victory make
Some Carnivals of Clouds

The Rapture of a finished Day
Returning to the West
All these remind us of the place
That Men call "paradise"

Itself be fairer we suppose
But how Ourself, shall be
Adorned, for a Superior Grace
Not yet, our eyes can see

3) Knows how to forget!

Knows how to forget!

But could It teach it?

Easiest of Arts, they say

When one learn how

Dull Hearts have died

In the Acquisition

Sacrificed for Science

Is common, though, now —

I went to School

But was not wiser

Globe did not teach it

Nor Logarithm Show

"How to forget"!

Say — some — Philosopher!

Ah, to be erudite

Enough to know!

Is it in a Book?

So, I could buy it —

Is it like a Planet?

Telescopes would know —

If it be invention

It must have a Patent.

Rabbi of the Wise Book

Don't you know?