I measure every Grief I meet — Jesus Christ

I measure every Grief I meet ¹
With narrow, probing, Eyes－
I wonder if It weighs like Mine－
Or has an Easier size.

I wonder if They bore it long－⁵
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－⁹
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－¹³
At length, renew their smile－
An imitation of a Light
That has so little Oil－

I wonder if when Years have piled－¹⁷
Some Thousands－on the Harm－
That hurt them early－such a lapse
Could give them any Balm－

Or would they go on aching still ²¹
Through Centuries of Nerve－
Enlightened to a larger Pain－
In Contrast with the Love－

The Grieved－are many－I am told－²⁵
There is the various Cause－
Death－is but one－and comes but once－
And only nails the eyes－

There's Grief of Want－and Grief of Cold－²⁹
A sort they call "Despair"－
There's Banishment from native Eyes－
In sight of Native Air－

And though I may not guess the kind－³³
Correctly－yet to me
A piercing Comfort it affords
In passing Calvary－

To note the fashions－of the Cross－³⁷
And how they're mostly worn－
Still fascinated to presume
That Some－are like My Own－

(F.550/J.561)

[1] I:: the narrator, Jesus Christ.
[5] They:: human beings.
[30] they call "Despair":: the human beings have despair.
[33–36] to me, piercing, Calvary:: the Crucifixion.
[37] Cross:: affliction, torment; the Cross that Jesus died on.
[40] My Own:: a hint on the answer, Jesus' own cross.