Pearl Andelson. Philosophic Dialogue. Harriet Monroe, ed. Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912-22

Harriet Monroe, ed. (1860–1936). Poetry: A Magazine of Verse. 1912–22.

Philosophic Dialogue

By Pearl Andelson


First Figure.	MOUNTAINS are simple—
	In the thumb-nail mind
	Of man illusion doubles to
	Illusion, in semblance of
	Complexity to hide	5
	Confusion.

Second Figure.	None but knows
	Within six days
	He made the world,
	And on the seventh	10
	Sought repose.

	The Evil, dying,
	Descend to Hell;
	The Good come
	Into the Kingdom.	15

First Figure.	Infinite Logic
	Is too fine a
	Web for the myopic eye
	Of a fly.

Second Figure.	None but knows	20
	Within six days …

First Figure.	Cause follows cause without
	End. The hounds tear
	In a circle after a
	No-hare.	25

Second Figure.	The Good come
	Into the Kingdom.

First Figure.	For this is truth: the tail is
	Coiled back relevantly to the
	Teeth.	30

Second Figure.	The Righteous have for goal
	Beauty of the soul.
	There is but
	This single beauty:
	In fear of God each	35
	Does his duty.

First Figure.	Out of the logic of
	Compensation in a circle
	Autonomic, so much beauty to
	Spare: a sea-girl’s	40
	Breasts; her purple hair.

Second Figure.	… Righteous … goal
	Beauty … soul;
	… fear … God …
	… duty.	45