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From “Many Evenings”
THE LAMP-LIT page is turned, the dream forgotten; | |
| The music changes tone, you wake, remember | |
| Deep worlds you lived before, deep worlds hereafter | |
| Of leaf on falling leaf, music on music, | |
| Rain and sorrow and wind and dust and laughter. | 5 |
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| Helen was late, and Miriam came too soon; | |
| Joseph was dead, his wife and children starving; | |
| Elaine was married and soon to have a child. | |
| You dreamed last night of fiddler crabs with fiddles. | |
| They played a buzzing melody, and you smiled. | 10 |
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| Tomorrow—what? And what of yesterday? | |
| Through soundless labyrinths of dream you pass, | |
| Through many doors to the one door of all. | |
| Soon as it’s opened we shall hear a music: | |
| Or see a skeleton fall. | 15 |
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| We walk with you. Where is it that you lead us? | |
| We climbed the muffled stairs beneath high lanterns. | |
| We descend again. We grope through darkened cells. | |
| You say: “This darkness, here, will slowly kill me— | |
| It creeps and weighs upon me …. is full of bells. | 20 |
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| “This is the thing remembered I would forget: | |
| No matter where I go, how soft I tread, | |
| This windy gesture menaces me with death. | |
| ‘Fatigue!’ it says—and points its finger at me; | |
| Touches my throat and stops my breath. | 25 |
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| “My fans, my jewels, the portrait of my husband, | |
| The torn certificate for my daughter’s grave— | |
| These are but mortal seconds in immortal time. | |
| They brush me, fade away—like drops of water. | |
| They signify no crime. | 30 |
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| “Let us retrace our steps: I have deceived you! | |
| Nothing is here I could not frankly tell you— | |
| No hint of guilt, or faithlessness, or threat. | |
| Dreams—they are madness; staring eyes—illusion. | |
| Let us return, hear music, and forget.” | 35 |
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