I Measure Every Grief I Meet

I measure every Grief I meet

With narrow, probing, eyes –

I wonder if It weighs like Mine –

Or has an Easier size.

I wonder if They bore it long –

Or did it just begin –

I could not tell the Date of Mine –

It feels so old a pain –

I wonder if it hurts to live –

And if They have to try –

And whether – could They choose between –

It would not be – to die –

I note that Some – gone patient long –

At length, renew their smile – 

An imitation of a Light

That has so little Oil –

I wonder if when Years have piled – 

Some Thousands – on the Harm – 

That hurt them early – such a lapse

Could give them any Balm – 

Or would they go on aching still

Through Centuries of Nerve –

Enlightened to a larger Pain – 

In Contrast with the Love – 

The Grieved – are many – I am told – 

There is various Cause – 

Death – is but one – and comes but once – 

And only nails the eyes – 

There's Grief of Want – and grief of Cold – 

A sort they call "Despair" – 

There's Banishment from native Eyes –

In sight of Native Air – 

And though I may not guess the kind – 

Correctly – yet to me

A piercing Comfort it affords

In passing Calvary – 

To note the fashions – of the Cross – 

And how they're mostly worn – 

Still fascinated to presume

That Some – are like my own –