Sour Grapes Part 4

THURSDAY

I have had my dream--like others-- and it has come to nothing, so that I remain now carelessly with feet planted on the ground and look up at the sky-- feeling my clothes about me, the weight of my body in my shoes, the rim of my hat, air pa.s.sing in and out at my nose--and decide to dream no more.

THE DARK DAY

A three-day-long rain from the east-- an interminable talking, talking of no consequence--patter, patter, patter.

Hand in hand little winds blow the thin streams aslant.

Warm. Distance cut off. Seclusion.

A few pa.s.sers-by, drawn in upon themselves, hurry from one place to another.

Winds of the white poppy! there is no escape!-- An interminable talking, talking, talking ... it has happened before.

Backward, backward, backward.

TIME THE HANGMAN

Poor old Abner, old white-haired n.i.g.g.e.r!

I remember when you were so strong you hung yourself by a rope round the neck in Doc Hollister's barn to prove you could beat the faker in the circus--and it didn't kill you.

Now your face is in your hands, and your elbows are on your knees, and you are silent and broken.

TO A FRIEND

Well, Lizzie Anderson! seventeen men--and the baby hard to find a father for!

What will the good Father in Heaven say to the local judge if he do not solve this problem?

A little two pointed smile and--pouff!-- the law is changed into a mouthful of phrases.

THE GENTLE MAN

I feel the caress of my own fingers on my own neck as I place my collar and think pityingly of the kind women I have known.

THE SOUGHING WIND

Some leaves hang late, some fall before the first frost--so goes the tale of winter branches and old bones.

SPRING

O my grey hairs!

You are truly white as plum blossoms.

PLAY

Subtle, clever brain, wiser than I am, by what devious means do you contrive to remain idle? Teach me, O master.

LINES

Leaves are greygreen, the gla.s.s broken, bright green.

THE POOR

By constantly tormenting them with reminders of the lice in their children's hair, the School Physician first brought their hatred down on him, But by this familiarity they grew used to him, and so, at last, took him for their friend and adviser.

COMPLETE DESTRUCTION

It was an icy day.

We buried the cat, then took her box and set fire to it in the back yard.

Those fleas that escaped earth and fire died by the cold.