Little Testament
I have lived. I have thought and labored, I have loved and possessed my love
To the uttermost inch of flesh, till the deep voice cried in us both.
I have not cut my coat according to the color of the cloth.
When the world passed by me in the street, it could have my fist or my glove.
To the uttermost inch of flesh, till the deep voice cried in us both.
I have not cut my coat according to the color of the cloth.
When the world passed by me in the street, it could have my fist or my glove.
My people were soldiers for the most part they had Spain and Ireland in their shroud;
I was a coward and afraid, yet I have not shamed them, I think.
I have not refused the drink when there might be venom in the drink.
I have written the verse for my pleasure, not for praise or monej or the crowd.
I was a coward and afraid, yet I have not shamed them, I think.
I have not refused the drink when there might be venom in the drink.
I have written the verse for my pleasure, not for praise or monej or the crowd.
Loving two countries well, sweet France, like a wall-sunned pear,
And this red, hard apple, America, tart-flavored, tasting of the wild,
I can lie at ease in either, yet may the child of my child
Run the heaps of gold leaves in the Fall, see the red leaf hanging in blue air.
And this red, hard apple, America, tart-flavored, tasting of the wild,
I can lie at ease in either, yet may the child of my child
Run the heaps of gold leaves in the Fall, see the red leaf hanging in blue air.
With the five dull tools of the senses, I have seen great Jupiter enskied,
Tasted the buds of spruce, the buds by the lakeside in the Spring,
Smelt woodsmoke and snow unfallen, heard the gold horns answei to the string
And touched the entire earth, on the mountain, naked as a bride.
Tasted the buds of spruce, the buds by the lakeside in the Spring,
Smelt woodsmoke and snow unfallen, heard the gold horns answei to the string
And touched the entire earth, on the mountain, naked as a bride.
I have been a traitor and loyal, a fool and the enemy of fools,
Certain friends I would not betray. I have worn ragged overcoats for pride.
I shall keep the delusions of my soul a secret until I have died,
Because of a stubborn nothing that would not answer to the rules.
Certain friends I would not betray. I have worn ragged overcoats for pride.
I shall keep the delusions of my soul a secret until I have died,
Because of a stubborn nothing that would not answer to the rules.
So it is. So be it with me. I make my mark and depart.
Children of children of my children, you will yet have a stinging in your blood,
A dark cell, a hidden laughter, an eye seeing bad and good
That chooses one mask in public but a different image in the heart.
Now the mind rusts into madness, the horses run without bit,
The paltry body is nothing but mechanics of bone and skin.
Nevertheless I have spoken. This nothing spoke for its kin
And loved one woman completely. Let her remember it.