[Leaf 1 recto]

Have I no _^^weapon‑word for thee—some message brief

and fierce?

Have I fought out _^^{and done} indeed the battle? wholly? is

there no shot left,

For all thy affectations, lisps, scorns, _^^manifold silliness?

Nor for myself—my own rebellious self [one letter illegible] in thee?

two leads

Down, down, proud gorge—tho' choking thee,

Thy bearded throat and high-borne forehead to the

gutter,

Crouch low thy neck to eleemosynary gifts.

[Leaf 1 verso]

Date: This manuscript was probably written near the end of 1888 or in the first few days of 1889.

Editorial note

"To the Year 1889" was published first on January 5, 1889, in the Critic. The poem was later retitled "To the Pending Year."

The verso has two notes in unknown hands. The first reads "Sky/$25.-" and the second "65."

The verso of leaf #1 is blank.

Notes written on manuscript

In top margin, in unknown hand: vs 553.

Location: To the Year 1889 | Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.