What is a letter? A bridge in the night From my soul to your soul; and over it go Envoys of darkness or envoys of light, Ladings of blessing or burdens of woe. What is a letter? A signal, a flash Darting directly from your soul to mine, Meaningless, meaningful, prudent or rash, Always a boding or jubilant sign. What is a letter? A flip of the pen? Paper and mucilage? That and no more? Nay; 'tis the fatefulest action of men, Reaching eternity's ultimate shore! Burn the old letters? Alas, if you could! Burn up indifference, malice, or hate? Once they might burn, or be altered to good, -- Ere they were written! but now is too late. Burn the old letters? the missives of cheer, Glowing with merriment, pulsing with love? Nay! though the paper disintegrates here, They are preserved in the mansions above! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VIGNETTES OVERSEAS: 6. RUINS OF PAESTUM by SARA TEASDALE SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 33. RED DAWN by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) MAXIMS FOR THE OLD HOUSE: THE STAIR by ANNA HEMPSTEAD BRANCH THE TOAD-EATER by ROBERT BURNS TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 4. EMPIRE by EDWARD CARPENTER TOWARDS DEMOCRACY: PART 4. SO THIN A VEIL by EDWARD CARPENTER WAS HE HENPECKED? by PHOEBE CARY TO A PORTRAIT OF WHISTLER IN THE BROOKLYN ART MUSEUM by ELEANOR ROGERS COX |