Man smell, the smell of decay and acid
In
an old unwanted bed. I did not
Allow myself to look into the face
Directly, knowing it was blank, and thus
The three brown wet pegs came
As
something of a shock set as they were in a dry
Shrunken gum, crude paling for a gray
Tongue. Frenetic workings of dying jaws
Distorted the mouth into which (my spoon
Against loose lips knocking dully)
I passed my gift of food. I poured half
The metal cup of milk and half the soft
Potato mixture into the face before
I noticed that beneath its black lids
The left eye was pale pink and that
The right one was spent somewhere leaving
A shell of mobile skin to return my stare:
My gauze mask meant to protect, suddenly
Stifled me and brought upon the bridge
Of
my nose unbearable pressure. I turned to meet
Unprepared the fixed, half-kind gaze
Of madmen. Watching my wet wrist twist
At the stiff lock I wrestled the unwanted knowledge
That not only eyes followed after me.
A PATHOLOGICAL CASE IN PLINY
Hirto corde gigni quosdam homines proditur,
neque alios fortioris esse industriae, sicut A risto–
menen M essenium qui trecentos occidit Lacedae–
manias.
...
Plinii:
N aturalis Historia
XI. lxx.
The guards slept, breathing uneven
Conversation with the trees, the sharp
Cicadas and knots of dry pine stirred
To insistent talk by flames: their light
Disclosed the bound Messenian rolling forward
