The Egotist Becomes a Personage

           "AfathomdeepinsleepIlie

           Witholddesires,restrainedbefore,

           Toclamorlifewardwithacry,

           Asdarkfliesoutthegreyingdoor;

           Andsoinquestofcreedstoshare

           Iseekassertivedayagain...

           Butoldmonotonyisthere:

           Endlessavenuesofrain.

           Oh,mightIriseagain!MightI

           Throwofftheheatofthatoldwine,

           Seethenewmorningmassthesky

           Withfairytowers,lineonline;

           Findeachmirageinthehighair

           Asymbol,notadreamagain...

           Butoldmonotonyisthere:

           Endlessavenuesofrain."

           UndertheglassportcullisofatheatreAmorystood,watchingthefirstgreatdropsofrainsplatterdownandflattentodarkstainsonthesidewalk.Theairbecamegrayandopalescent;asolitarylightsuddenlyoutlinedawindowovertheway;thenanotherlight;thenahundredmoredancedandglimmeredintovision.Underhisfeetathick,iron-studdedskylightturnedyellow;inthestreetthelampsofthetaxi-cabssentoutglisteningsheensalongthealreadyblackpavement.TheunwelcomeNovemberrainhadperverselystolentheday’slasthourandpawneditwiththatancientfence,thenight.

           Thesilenceofthetheatrebehindhimendedwithacurioussnappingsound,followedbytheheavyroaringofarisingcrowdandtheinterlacedclatterofmanyvoices.Thematineewasover.

           Hestoodaside,edgedalittleintotheraintoletthethrongpass.