But as I put down my glass I remember: I am engaged
tobe married. I smoothed my hair when Icame in, hoping to look like the rest of
you.
By what particular name are we to call
it?
Each time the door opens I am
interrupted.
I waitfor you to speak and then speak like
you.
We cannot sink down, wecannot forget our
faces.
The sharp breath of his misery scatters my being.
Now,when he is about to leave us, to go to India, all these triflescome
together.
She looks far away over our heads, beyond India.
But it is not you,it is not you, it is not you; not Percival, Susan, Jinny,
Nevilleor Louis.
Leaves unfold; thestags blare in the thicket. Death
is woven in with the violets, said Louis. She looks far away over our heads, beyond
India. What face can I summon to lay coolupon this heat?
From the desire to be separate we havelaid stress
upon our faults, and what is particular to us.
The early train from the north is hurled at her
like amissile. They spied a snail and tappedthe shell against a stone.
Here, incredible as itseems, will be his actual
body.
No, that is too small, too particular a name. Yes,
said Jinny, our senses have widened. We cannot sink down, wecannot forget our faces.
I circled round the chairs toavoid the horror of the spring.