VII

"Note the hitch there! That's piteous—so much being done,

(He'll think some day, your lover) so little to do!

Such infinite days to wear out, once begun!

Since the hand its glove holds, and the footsole its shoe—

Overhead too there's always the sun!"

[Pg 381]

VIII

Oh, no doubt they had said so, your friends—been profuse

Of good counsel, wise hints—"where the trap lurks, walk warily—

Squeeze the fruit to the core ere you count on the juice!

For the graft may fail, shift, wax, change colour, wane, vary, lie—"

You were cautious, God knows—to what use?

IX

This crab's wiser, it strikes me—no twist but implies life—

Not a curl but's so fit you could find none fitter—

For the brute from its brutehood looks up thus and eyes life—

Stoop your soul down and listen, you'll hear it twitter,

Laughing lightly,—my crab's life's the wise life!

X

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