Three Thoughts

Come in, Sweet Thought, come in;
Why linger at the door?
Is it because a shape of sin
Defiled the place before?
'Twas but a moment there;
I chased it soon away;
Behold, my breast is clean and bare—
Come in, Sweet Thought, and stay.
The Sweet Thought said me " No;
I love not such a room;
Where uncouth inmates come and go.
And back, unbidden, come.
I rather make my cell
From ill resort secure,
Where love and lovely fancies dwell
In bosoms virgin-pure."

Oh, Pure Thought, then said I
Come thou, and bring with thee
This dainty Sweetness, fancy-bred,
That flouts my house and me.
No peevish pride hast thou.
Nor turnest glance of scorn
On aught the laws of life allow
In man of woman born.
Said he, " No place for us
Is here: and, be it known,
You dwell where ways are perilous
For them that walk alone.
There needs the surer road,
The fresher-sprinkled floor,
Else are we not for your abode ":
And turned him from my door.

Then, in my utmost need,
Oh, Holy Thought, I cried.
Come thou, that cleansest will and deed.
And in my breast abide.
"Yea, sinner, that will I,
And presently begin ";
And ere the heart had heav'd its sigh.
The Guest Divine came in.
As in the pest-house ward
The prompt Physician stands,
As in the leagur'd castle yard
The Warden with his bands,
He stood, and said, " My task
Is here and here my home;
And here am I who only ask
That I be asked to come."

See how in huddling flight
The ranks of darkness run.
Exhale and perish in the light
Stream'd from the risen sun;
How, but a drop infuse
Within the turbid bowl.
Of some elixir's virtuous juice.
It straight makes clear the whole;
So from before his face
The fainting phantoms went.
And, in a fresh and sunny place,
My soul sat down content;
For—mark and understand
My ailment and my cure—
Love came and brought me, in his hand,
The Sweet Thought and the Pure.