PARTISAN REVIEW
373
preciate it very much if you would autograph it and return it in the
enclosed stamped envelope. My drawing abilities leave much to be
desired, I'm afraid, but the picture does you justice, I think (though
even the photograph doesn't convey the moody power of your eyes ) .
Thank you!
Gratefully,
Roberta Brightmore
1 November
Keith Lurie:
No need to pretend you've been out of town. Or to imagine that
I think so. I happen to have seen you in person three times during
the past week - merely sitting in the park across from your apart–
ment building, without being especially on the alert for you. I spent
some profitable hours in that park, quite peaceful, even rather con–
tent, turning over and over in my mind the folly and cruelty of human
relationships.
Perhaps you don't believe that I actually saw you (in your Olym–
pian detachment! ) - but I can enumerate the occasions.
1.
Wed. 5: 30 P.M. Left a taxi, entered your building. Wearing
a dark trench coat, shoes of fawn-colored suede (or some other soft
material), carrying a brown leather briefcase and a small brown bag
(liquor? - groceries? ) I wondered if I should approach you; I lost
my nerve, of course. The taxi driver was waiting to make a
V-turn,
so on a sudden impulse (I sometimes do things like this, amazing
myself - but then, life is not logical ) I ran over to
him
and got into
the cab. I had him drive me home, though I could hardly afford it!
The driver was quite a pleasant fellow. I asked him if he had rec–
ognized you - no - didn't even know the name "Keith Lurie" –
guessed you might be a prize-fighter or a football player ( !) - so I
set him straight. I explained that he had just driven home one of
America's (the world's? ) finest composers, who, at the incredible age
of 32, has such unlimited promise that we may anticipate another
Stravinsky in our midst. I hardly mean to flatter or to embarrass you
- but
this
happens to be true.
2. Thurs. 10: 45 A.M. Leaving your apartment, in a hurry,
wt>aring a bright rust-colored twet>d outfit, vest and all (English-
