God, whom we see not, is: and God, who is not, we see:

Fiddle, we know, is diddle: and diddle, we take it, is dee.

[Pg 375]

[Pg 375]

JOHN JONES'S WIFE

I

AT THE PIANO

I

Love me and leave me; what love bids retrieve me? can June's fist grasp May?

Leave me and love me; hopes eyed once above me like spring's sprouts decay;

Fall as the snow falls, when summer leaves grow false—cards packed for storm's play!

II

Nay, say Decay's self be but last May's elf, wing shifted, eye sheathed—

Changeling in April's crib rocked, who lets 'scape rills locked fast since frost breathed—

Skin cast (think!) adder-like, now bloom bursts bladder-like,—bloom frost bequeathed?

III

Ah, how can fear sit and hear as love hears it grief's heart's cracked grate's screech?

Chance lets the gate sway that opens on hate's way and shews on shame's beach

Crouched like an imp sly change watch sweet love's shrimps lie, a toothful in each.

[Pg 376]

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