Волны

           Theweightoftheworldisonourshoulders;itsvisionisthroughoureyes;ifweblinkorlookaside,orturnbacktofingerwhatPlatosaidorrememberNapoleonandhisconquests,weinflictontheworldtheinjuryofsomeobliquity.Thisislife;MrPrenticeatfour;MrEyresatfour-thirty.Iliketohearthesoftrushoftheliftandthethudwithwhichitstopsonmylandingandtheheavymaletreadofresponsiblefeetdownthecorridors.Sobydintofourunitedexertionswesendshipstotheremotestpartsoftheglobe;repletewithlavatoriesandgymnasiums.Theweightoftheworldisonourshoulders.Thisislife.IfIpresson,Ishallinheritachairandarug;aplaceinSurreywithglasshouses,andsomerareconifer,melonorfloweringtreewhichothermerchantswillenvy.

           ’YetIstillkeepmyatticroom.ThereIopentheusuallittlebook;thereIwatchtherainglistenonthetilestilltheyshinelikeapoliceman’swaterproof;thereIseethebrokenwindowsinpoorpeople’shouses;theleancats;someslatternsquintinginacrackedlooking-glassasshearrangesherfaceforthestreetcorner;thereRhodasometimescomes.Forwearelovers.

           ’Percivalhasdied(hediedinEgypt;hediedinGreece;alldeathsareonedeath).Susanhaschildren;Nevillemountsrapidlytotheconspicuousheights.Lifepasses.Thecloudschangeperpetuallyoverourhouses.Idothis,dothat,andagaindothisandthenthat.Meetingandparting,weassembledifferentforms,makedifferentpatterns.