Волны

           Atthathouryourrelationshipismute,null,dun-coloured.Mineatthathouriswarmandvarious.Therearenorepetitionsforme.Eachdayisdangerous.Smoothonthesurface,weareallbonebeneathlikesnakescoiling.SupposewereadTheTimes;supposeweargue.Itisanexperience.Supposeitiswinter.Thesnowfallingloadsdowntheroofandsealsustogetherinaredcave.Thepipeshaveburst.Westandayellowtinbathinthemiddleoftheroom.Werushhelter-skelterforbasins.Lookthere--ithasburstagainoverthebookcase.Weshoutwithlaughteratthesightofruin.Letsoliditybedestroyed.Letushavenopossessions.Orisitsummer?WemaywandertoalakeandwatchChinesegeesewaddlingflat-footedtothewater’sedgeorseeabone-likecitychurchwithyounggreentremblingbeforeit.(Ichooseatrandom;Ichoosetheobvious.)Eachsightisanarabesquescrawledsuddenlytoillustratesomehazardandmarvelofintimacy.Thesnow,theburstpipe,thetinbath,theChinesegoose--thesearesignsswunghighaloftuponwhich,lookingback,Ireadthecharacterofeachlove;howeachwasdifferent.

           ’Youmeanwhile--forIwanttodiminishyourhostility,yourgreeneyesfixedonmine,andyourshabbydress,yourroughhands,andalltheotheremblemsofyourmaternalsplendour--havestucklikealimpettothesamerock.Yetitistrue,Idonotwanttohurtyou;onlytorefreshandfurbishupmyownbeliefinmyselfthatfailedatyourentry.Changeisnolongerpossible.Wearecommitted.