136
PARTISAN REVIEW
The century was rolled into one formation aloft,
A cloud, like St. Veronica's handkerchief of love.
There I saw the face of the one without whom
I lived, two soft jewels implanted in her face,
Her hair pouring around her face without sound,
And her love for me sprang on her skin like dew,
Pearl-grey as the flower of the brain she lay
Quivering on the soft cushion of the great day.
I heard a roar of buildings at my conscience,
I looked up and saw a wall of windows glowing,
And there my love leaned out of each window,
There she leaned out multiplied like heaven
In that vast wall of lights, every light her face,
Suns of a thousand mornings ranging on one day.
And all the machines were running, and yes, great
Was the sound of their running downward and down
Into the blind chutes of their rooted feet,
And all of the windows quivered with my many loves,
Like apples they fell off at one windfall, all,
And I awoke on the starved pavements of no love.
E. L. Mayo
IN THE TUNNEL
I knew I should be here
Oh long ago
I saw myself sitting here, scribbling here
Ten years ago,
But when I get up and leave this tunnel
I do not know where I shall go.
Thunder and spark,
Whistle cleaving the night,
Glittering procession of light;
Then doubly
Dark.
