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Date Posted: 16:09:30 09/23/04 Thu
Author: TSE
Author Host/IP: 68.232.138.165
Subject: Portrait continued
In reply to: TSE 's message, "Portrait of a Lady" on 16:01:26 09/23/04 Thu

The October night comes down; returning as before
Except for a slight sensation of being ill at ease         85
I mount the stairs and turn the handle of the door
And feel as if I had mounted on my hands and knees.
“And so you are going abroad; and when do you return?
But that’s a useless question.
You hardly know when you are coming back,         90
You will find so much to learn.”
My smile falls heavily among the bric-à-brac.
 
“Perhaps you can write to me.”
My self-possession flares up for a second;
This is as I had reckoned.         95
“I have been wondering frequently of late
(But our beginnings never know our ends!)
Why we have not developed into friends.”
I feel like one who smiles, and turning shall remark
Suddenly, his expression in a glass.         100
My self-possession gutters; we are really in the dark.
 
“For everybody said so, all our friends,
They all were sure our feelings would relate
So closely! I myself can hardly understand.
We must leave it now to fate.         105
You will write, at any rate.
Perhaps it is not too late.
I shall sit here, serving tea to friends.”
 
And I must borrow every changing shape
To find expression … dance, dance         110
Like a dancing bear,
Cry like a parrot, chatter like an ape.
Let us take the air, in a tobacco trance—
 
Well! and what if she should die some afternoon,
Afternoon grey and smoky, evening yellow and rose;         115
Should die and leave me sitting pen in hand
With the smoke coming down above the housetops;
Doubtful, for a while
Not knowing what to feel or if I understand
Or whether wise or foolish, tardy or too soon…         120
Would she not have the advantage, after all?
This music is successful with a “dying fall”
Now that we talk of dying—
And should I have the right to smile?

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