Волны

           WhenthesunblisterstheroofsofthecityIthinkofher;whenthedryleavespattertotheground;whentheoldmencomewithpointedsticksandpiercelittlebitsofpaperaswepiercedher--

           Owesternwind,whenwiltthoublow,

           Thatthesmallraindowncanrain?

           Christ,thatmylovewereinmyarms,

           AndIinmybedagain!

           Ireturnnowtomybook;Ireturnnowtomyattempt.’

           ’Oh,life,howIhavedreadedyou,’saidRhoda,’oh,humanbeings,howIhavehatedyou!Howyouhavenudged,howyouhaveinterrupted,howhideousyouhavelookedinOxfordStreet,howsqualidsittingoppositeeachotherstaringintheTube!NowasIclimbthismountain,fromthetopofwhichIshallseeAfrica,mymindisprintedwithbrown-paperparcelsandyourfaces.Ihavebeenstainedbyyouandcorrupted.Yousmeltsounpleasanttoo,liningupoutsidedoorstobuytickets.Allweredressedinindeterminateshadesofgreyandbrown,neverevenabluefeatherpinnedtoahat.Nonehadthecouragetobeonethingratherthananother.Whatdissolutionofthesoulyoudemandedinordertogetthroughoneday,whatlies,bowings,scrapings,fluencyandservility!Howyouchainedmetoonespot,onehour,onechair,andsatyourselvesdownopposite!Howyousnatchedfrommethewhitespacesthatliebetweenhourandhourandrolledthemintodirtypelletsandtossedthemintothewaste-paperbasketwithyourgreasypaws.Yetthoseweremylife.

           ’ButIyielded.Sneersandyawnswerecoveredwithmyhand.Ididnotgooutintothestreetandbreakabottleinthegutterasasignofrage.