502
PARTISAN REVIEW
-Paying lots of attention. A clear vision of what can and
can't be done.
-Progress extending far into the future. Dams and aque–
ducts. The amazing strength of the powerful.
-Organizing our deepest wishes as a mother foresightedly
visits a store that will be closed tomorrow.
-Friendship's the best thing.
-One of the best things. One of the very best.
-I performed in a hall. Alone under the burning lights.
-The hall jampacked with admiring faces. Except for a
few.
- Julia was there. Rotten Julia.
-But 1 mean you really like her don't you?
-Well 1 mean who doesn't like violet eyes?
-Got to make the effort, scratch where it itches, plans,
schemes, directives, guidelines.
-Well 1 mean who doesn't like frisky knees?
- Yes she's lost her
g~ow.
Gone utterly.
-The strains of the city working upon an essentially
nonurban sensibility.
-But 1 love the city and will not hear it traduced.
-Well, me too. But after all. But still.
-Think Julia's getting it on with Bally.
-Yeah 1 heard about that he's got a big mouth.
-But handsome hip bones got to give him that.
-I remember, 1 can feel them still, pressing into me as they
once did on hot afternoons and cool nights and feverish first–
thing-in-the-mornings.
- Yes, Bally is a regal memory for everyone.
-My best ghost. The one 1 think about, in bitter times and
good.
-Trying to get my colors together. Trying to play one off
against another. Trying for cancellation.
-I respect your various phases. Your sweet, even discourse.
-I spent some time away and found everyone there affable,
gentle, and good.
-Nonculminating kind of ultimately affectless activity.
-Which you mime so gracefully in auditoria large and
small.
