I know that He exists.
Somewhere--in Silence--
He has hid his rare life
From our gross eyes.
'Tis an instant's play.
'Tis a fond Ambush--
Just to make Bliss
Earn her own surprise!
But--should the play
Prove piercing earnest--
Should the glee--glaze--
In Death's--stiff--stare--
Would not the fun
Look too expensive!
Would not the jest--
Have crawled too far!
(1862)