Measure what space a violet stands above the ground,

'Tis no farther climbing that my soul and angels have to do than that."

[Written on the fly-leaf of

Emerson's "Representative

Men," between 1874 and

1879]

While I lie here under the tree,

Comes a strange insect and poises an instant at my cheek,

And lays his antennæ there upon my skin,

Then perceiving that I have nothing of nutriment for him,