From Blank to Blank — Blinker

From Blank to Blank－¹
A Threadless Way
I pushed Mechanic feet－
To stop－or perish－or advance－
Alike indifferent－

If end I gained ⁶
It ends beyond
Indefinite disclosed－
I shut my eyes－and groped as well
'Twas lighter－to be Blind－

(F.484/J.761)

[1] Blank:: an interval void of consciousness. Blank:: the white spot in the centre of a target _{(OED 2a)}; the view of a race horse with blinkers. Blank hints at blink.
[2] Threadless:: without known the environment, for the horse's eyes are covered by blinkers or blinders.
[3] I:: a horse.
[4] stop:: to halt before the starting line. perish:: to waste, squander _{(OED 3c)}, exhaust all the energy. advance:: to lead the race.
[5] indifferent:: no difference from the horse's view.
[6] end I gained:: the horse gained its end, retirement.
[7, 8] beyond Indefinite disclosed:: disclosed the blinkers forever.
[9] shut my eyes, grope:: the horse is accustomed to the blinkers.
[10] Blind:: a blinker for a horse _{(OED n. 3)}, to narrow a horse's vision. This poem fits a carriage horse too. lighter, Blind:: easier not to see too much.

Is there any real use in having blinds or blinders upon the bridles of carriage-horses? We doubt exceedingly if there need be, provided, nevertheless as the lawyers say, the horses are trained as they ought to be in the beginning. ─ The Family Magazine, Volume 6 (1841)

"Sir," said he, "are not horses sometimes afraid of the carriage itself? and would not such horses do better with blinds on?"
"Such horses, sir," said I "are never safe, and should not be worked in harness at all, for the first unusual noise will alarm them, and then they will be almost certain to run away; they should always be permitted to see everything about them, and if they are not afraid of what they are to draw at the outset they will see nothing in it afterward to alarm them. ─ The Secret of Success: or, Family Affairs (1853)