To Mr. Samuel Bowles
From ED

early 1862

Dear friend

If you doubted my Snow - for a moment - you never will - again - I know -

Because I could not say it - I fixed it in the Verse - for you to read - when your thought wavers, for such a foot as mine -

Through the strait pass of suffering -
The Martyrs - even - trod.
Their feet - upon Temptation -
Their faces - upon God -

A stately - shriven - Company -
Convulsion - playing round -
Harmless - as streaks of Meteor -
Upon a Planet's Bond -

Their faith - the everlasting troth -
Their Expectation - fair -
The Needle - to the North Degree -
Wades - so - thro' polar Air!