It was not Death, for I stood up — Pipe Organ

It was not Death, for I stood up, ¹
And all the Dead, lie down－
It was not Night, for all the Bells
Put out their Tongues, for Noon.

It was not Frost, for on my Flesh ⁵
I felt Siroccos－crawl－
Nor Fire－for just my Marble feet
Could keep a Chancel, cool－

And yet, it tasted, like them all, ⁹
The Figures I have seen
Set orderly, for Burial,
Reminded me, of mine－

As if my life were shaven, ¹³
And fitted to a frame,
And could not breathe without a key,
And 'twas like Midnight, some -

When everything that ticked－has stopped－¹⁷
And Space stares all around－
Or Grisly frosts－first Autumn morns,
Repeal the Beating Ground－

But, most, like Chaos - Stopless－cool－²¹
Without a Change, or Spar－
Or even a Report of Land－
To justify－Despair.

(F.355/J.510)

[1] I:: a pipe organ.
[1, 2] stood up, lie down:: a pipe organ is standing as if alive.
[3, 4] Bells, Noon:: a hint on a church where the organ is placed and used in noon time.
[5, 6] Frost, Siroccos:: the dry warm wind that drives the organ.
[7] marble feet:: the organ's feet that made of marble.
[8] Chancel:: the place to put the altar or communion table in a church.
[9] tasted, like them all:: the organ has tasted death, darkness, chilliness, and fire.
[10, 11] Figures, Burial:: the organ witnesses many burials.
[13, 14] my life were shaven, frame:: the process of an organ construction.
[15] breathe, key:: a pipe organ functions with key and air.
[23] Report:: an explosive noise.
[24] Despair:: something unmatchable.