Жизнь избивала, он стоял;
Валила - не упал -
Впивалась жгущим острием -
Гасить не уставал.
Травила, умаляла шаг,
Испробовала все -
Не дрогнул, и прочел в глазах:
Ты муж - я признаю.
Emily Dickinson
Fr1084
Fate slew Him, but He
did not drop -
She felled — He did
not fall—
Impaled Him on Her
fiercest stakes —
He neutralized them all -
She stung Him - sapped
His firm Advance -
But, when Her Worst was
done,
And He - unmoved, regarded Her -
Acknowledged Him a Man.