Волны

           Onthesewallsareinscribedthenamesofmenofwar,ofstatesmen,ofsomeunhappypoets(mineshallbeamongthem).Blessingsbeonalltraditions,onallsafeguardsandcircumscriptions!Iammostgratefultoyoumeninblackgowns,andyou,dead,foryourleading,foryourguardianship;yetafterall,theproblemremains.Thedifferencesarenotyetsolved.Flowerstosstheirheadsoutsidethewindow.Iseewildbirds,andimpulseswilderthanthewildestbirdsstrikefrommywildheart.Myeyesarewild;mylipstightpressed.Thebirdflies;theflowerdances;butIhearalwaysthesullenthudofthewaves;andthechainedbeaststampsonthebeach.Itstampsandstamps.’

           ’Thisisthefinalceremony,’saidBernard.Thisisthelastofallourceremonies.Weareovercomebystrangefeelings.Theguardholdinghisflagisabouttoblowhiswhistle;thetrainbreathingsteaminanothermomentisabouttostart.Onewantstosaysomething,tofeelsomething,absolutelyappropriatetotheoccasion.One’smindisprimed;one’slipsarepursed.AndthenabeedriftsinandhumsroundtheflowersinthebouquetwhichLadyHampton,thewifeoftheGeneral,keepssmellingtoshowherappreciationofthecompliment.Ifthebeeweretostinghernose?Wearealldeeplymoved;yetirreverent;yetpenitent;yetanxioustogetitover;yetreluctanttopart.Thebeedistractsus;itscasualflightseemstoderideourintensity.Hummingvaguely,skimmingwidely,itissettlednowonthecarnation.Manyofuswillnotmeetagain.