Волны

           Igobeneathgroundtortuously,asifawardercarriedalampfromcelltocell.MydestinyhasbeenthatIrememberandmustweavetogether,mustplaitintoonecablethemanythreads,thethin,thethick,thebroken,theenduringofourlonghistory,ofourtumultuousandvariedday.Thereisalwaysmoretobeunderstood;adiscordtobelistenedfor;afalsitytobereprimanded.Brokenandsoot-stainedaretheseroofswiththeirchimneycowls,theirlooseslates,theirslinkingcatsandatticwindows.Ipickmywayoverbrokenglass,amongblisteredtiles,andseeonlyvileandfamishedfaces.

           ’LetussupposethatImakereasonofitall--onepoemonapage,andthendie.Icanassureyouitwillnotbeunwillingly.Percivaldied.Rhodaleftme.ButIshalllivetobegauntandsere,totapmyway,muchrespected,withmygold-headedcanealongthepavementsofthecity.PerhapsIshallneverdie,shallneverattaineventhatcontinuityandpermanence--

           Owesternwind,whenwiltthoublow,

           Thatthesmallraindowncanrain?

           ’Percivalwasfloweringwithgreenleavesandwaslaidintheearthwithallhisbranchesstillsighinginthesummerwind.Rhoda,withwhomIsharedsilencewhentheothersspoke,shewhohungbackandturnedasidewhentheherdassembledandgallopedwithorderly,sleekbacksovertherichpastures,hasgonenowlikethedesertheat.