I'll bore you likely. Still, I can't refuse The compliment. But mark . . . I've warned you. The door? Oh, leave it open. I've nothing worthy Of a thief but books. And thieves, who show Their lack of wisdom by their furtive calling, Can little use them. Too, a friend might come, And locks sit ill with friendship. I believe The dews are falling. Which road? Ah, the Needle . . A goodly stroll for twilight. You've proper taste. Yes, the dews are falling. There's the moon. ... LOOTFI MINAS The Upper World Brown University And thus spoke the grand-child to his grandmother: "Some day men will not be made of dust nor will they be inhabitants of the earth. They will be born into the Upper World with a sun-like body. Their nudity will be the moral law of Nature and Beauty. They will pass by the other planets like comets and will be called human-birds. They will have only one tongue as well as one song. The men of that century will live in marble towers. God will not be able any more to disorder their tongue as He did in Babel. The women will become crystalized and their beauty will lighten the earth. The rainbow will be about their bodies like a ribbon. When a new-born comes to their boundaries the women will escort him, having the stars on their fingers for lighting his way and make him safe in his reaching to the mystery of towers. The newborn, in order to grow, will always raise his hands and his stature to the moon. If one of them stop to sing they will realize that he is dead. and will drop his corpse from the tower, laughing loudly. Down below, the civilized gorillas will bury it as a present from heaven. This world will become the cemetery of the upper inhabitants." The grand-mother, greatly surprised by his wisdom, asked him, "Who will be the God of that century?” "The God for them will be dead forever, as Iwell as the notion of Good and Evil. In order to become complete they will like death as much as life, because both life and death supplement each other. Whoever dares to think of the mystery of the universe will be dropped down in the seas as a devil. Innocence will be accepted as superb wisdom.' "Well! What about the law?" she asked. "Even a trace of it will be unknown, because men will not have any more causes of anger. The kiss will indicate eternal peace. All men will live in the upper world on terms of equality like stars. They will be born and will die as easily as the sun rises and sets.' The grand-mother fervently raised her skeleton-like hands and begged from the God of her days to make the grand-child an inhabitant of the Upper World. Cornell Special Easter Recess D. E. KEENAN Cornell University Sharply, the whistle, Cleaving the flabby talk of good-byes and good wishes, Writhes like a steel-clad arm between those on the train and those that crowd on the platform. Grinding of doors that close, opening windows. "Good-bye till . . . But the heavy bell pounds the words into pulp, The faces are lumped together. The train thru its ringed length shudders, un coiling, Tosses a mane, black and white grizzled, and hisses: Quivers, shivers, jerks into crawling, starts into running, darts into flying, is gone. I won't talk if you're tired (as you must be) and need Some rest. Here's The Widow to read. Won't strain your brain nor your eyes, nor, I fear, Your what do you call 'em?-muscles of laughter." Far above Cayuga, the library tower sways, bends backward, is caught in the hills. Over my shoulder aslant, Buttermilk spills. Grinding the distance to powder with steel upon steel. Aimed straight at the hill-side we fly, and miss it by inches. Echoes, mighty as boulders, roll down the slopes against us. Proudly thru villages, unstopping, disdainful, The church-spires crazily dancing, the houses tumbled together, We hurl mocking cinders on washings, inflated grotesquely, Blow greasy smoke into the mouth of the little girl waving to greet us. |