You've seen Balloons set -- Haven't You?
So stately they ascend --
It is as Swans -- discarded You,
For Duties Diamond --
Their Liquid Feet go softly out
Upon a Sea of Blonde --
They spurn the Air, as t'were too mean
For Creatures so renowned --
Their Ribbons just beyond the eye --
They struggle -- some -- for Breath --
And yet the Crowd applaud, below --
They would not encore -- Death --
The Gilded Creature strains -- and spins --
Trips frantic in a Tree --
Tears open her imperial Veins --
And tumbles in the Sea --
The Crowd -- retire with an Oath --
The Dust in Streets -- go down --
And Clerks in Counting Rooms
Observe -- "'Twas only a Balloon" --
A Thought went up my mind today --
That I have had before --
But did not finish -- some way back --
I could not fix the Year --
Nor where it went -- nor why it came
The second time to me --
Nor definitely, what it was --
Have I the Art to say --
