It would have starved a Gnat－1
To live so small as I－
And yet I was a living Child－
With Food's necessity
Upon me－like a Claw－5
I could no more remove
Than I could coax a Leech away－
Or make a Dragon－move－
Not like the Gnat－had I－9
The privilege to fly
And seek a Dinner for myself－
How mightier He－than I－
Nor like Himself－the Art 13
Upon the Window Pane
To gad my little Being out－
And not begin－again－
To live so small as I－
And yet I was a living Child－
With Food's necessity
Upon me－like a Claw－5
I could no more remove
Than I could coax a Leech away－
Or make a Dragon－move－
Not like the Gnat－had I－9
The privilege to fly
And seek a Dinner for myself－
How mightier He－than I－
Nor like Himself－the Art 13
Upon the Window Pane
To gad my little Being out－
And not begin－again－
(F.444/J.612)
[1, 2] starved, small:: an air-plant lives only from the air.
[15] gad, out:: itself can split new plants.
AIR-PLANT. A singular plant, which grows suspended from the ceiling of a room, and derives its nutriment from the air. The first plant of thin kind which was blown in England is to be seen at Claremont at the seat of Prince Leopold. ─ A Family Encyclopaedia (1831)