18
PARTISAN REVIEW
But when, against Fate, errors ward:
"Frustrate while ye mirror kind
disaster, blind
Chance, at once your enemy and guard" .
the muscles of the mind reply:
"Think, act in answer to desire;
from the will springs Promethean fire."
Deeds make us. May therefore when our Last
Judgment find our works be just;
all of our tools, from rulers to flutes
praise us; and our deeds' praise find
the Second Coming of the Word.
(Dance, all whose nature is to dance;
dance all, for all would pipe.)
JOHN WHEELWRIGHT
Poem
The poor thing crying at night,
Putting blunt head to our door
How the sky over these houses pushes itself
Against God's great agile hand
Hush, be still
In the village are lights and the voice
of a woman who knows your name
Hush, and sleep
"Who'd bread for dying?"
"Cheap candles for the dead?"
