Doom is the House without the Door－1
'Tis entered from the Sun－
And then the Ladder's thrown away,
Because Escape－is done－
'Tis varied by the Dream 5
Of what they do outside－
Where Squirrels play－and Berries die－
And Hemlocks－bow－to God－
'Tis entered from the Sun－
And then the Ladder's thrown away,
Because Escape－is done－
'Tis varied by the Dream 5
Of what they do outside－
Where Squirrels play－and Berries die－
And Hemlocks－bow－to God－
(F.710/J.475)
[1] Doom, House:: doom-house, a judgement hall; or Doom-ring, Circle of Judgment. without the Door:: without escape.
[2] Sun:: brightness and clear.
[3] Ladder:: tool to escape.
[5] varied:: different sentence by the judge.
[5, 6] Dream, outside:: what criminals dreamed to have before they were caught.
[7] Squirrels play:: squirrel-minded people play the law in the court. Berries die:: nice things perish (die), or are stained (dye); die was an amendment of dye in the original manuscript.
[8] Hemlocks:: plants with stout stem, alluding to stout men. God:: a powerful man, judge in the court; or the authority of court.