'Twas Crisis -- All the length had passed --

'Twas Crisis -- All the length had passed --
That dull -- benumbing time
There is in Fever or Event --
And now the Chance had come --

The instant holding in it's claw
The privilege to live
Or warrant to present[^a1]report the Soul
The other side the Grave.

[^a1: present | present]

The Muscles struggled[^a2]grappled as with leads
That would not let the Will --
The Spirit shook the Adamant --
But could not make it tell --[^a3]feel.

[^a2: struggled | struggled]

[^a3: tell -- | tell --]

The Second poised -- debated -- shot --
Another had begun --
And simultaneously, a Soul
Escaped the House unseen --