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and the dust settles down。 A little whirl of wind comes up Tilbury road。
It brings a sound of wheels and feet。 The wind reels a moment and faints
to nothing under the sign…post。 Wind again； wheels and feet louder。 Wind
again again again。 A drop of rain； flat into the dust。 Drop！ Drop！
Thick heavy raindrops； and a shrieking wind bending the great trees and
wrenching off their leaves。
Under the black sky； bowed and dripping with rain； up Tilbury road；
comes the procession。 A funeral procession； bound for the graveyard at
Wayfleet。 Feet and wheels feet and wheels。 And among them one
who is carried。
The bones in the deep； still earth shiver and pull。 There is a quiver
through the rotted stake。 Then stake and bones fall together in a little
puffing of dust。
Like meshes of linked steel the rain shuts down behind the procession；
now well along the Wayfleet road。
He wavers like smoke in the buffeting wind。 His fingers blow out
like smoke； his head ripples in the gale。 Under the sign…post； in the
pouring rain； he stands； and watches another quavering figure drifting
down the Wayfleet road。 Then swiftly he streams after it。 It flickers
among the trees。 He licks out and winds about them。 Over； under；
blown； contorted。 Spindrift after spindrift； smoke following smoke。
There is a wailing through the trees； a wailing of fear； and after it laughter
laughter laughter； skirling up to the black sky。 Lightning jags over the
funeral procession。 A heavy clap of thunder。 Then darkness and rain； and
the sound of feet and wheels。
43
… Page 44…
Men； Women and Ghosts
A Roxbury Garden
I
Hoops
Blue and pink sashes； Criss…cross shoes； Minna and Stella run out into
the garden To play at hoop。
Up and down the garden…paths they race； In the yellow sunshine； Each
with a big round hoop White as a stripped willow…wand。
Round and round turn the hoops； Their diamond whiteness cleaving
the yellow sunshine。 The gravel crunches and squeaks beneath them； And
a large pebble springs them into the air To go whirling for a foot or two
Before they touch the earth again In a series of little jumps。
Spring； Hoops！ Spit out a shower of blue and white brightness。 The
little criss…cross shoes twinkle behind you； The pink and blue sashes flutter
like flags； The hoop…sticks are ready to beat you。 Turn； turn； Hoops！ In
the yellow sunshine。 Turn your stripped willow whiteness Along the
smooth paths。
Stella sings： 〃Round and round； rolls my hoop； Scarcely
touching the ground； With a swoop； And a bound； Round and
round。 With a bumpety； crunching； scattering sound； Down the
garden it flies； In our eyes The sun lies。 See it spin Out
and in； Through the paths it goes whirling； About the beds curling。
Sway now to the loop； Faster； faster； my hoop。 Round you come；
Up you come； Quick and straight as before。 Run； run； my hoop；
run； Away from the sun。〃
And the great hoop bounds along the path； Leaping into the wind…
bright air。
Minna sings： 〃Turn； hoop； Burn hoop； Twist and twine
Hoop of mine。 Flash along； Leap along； Right at the sun。
Run； hoop； run。 Faster and faster； Whirl； twirl。 Wheel like
fire； And spin like glass； Fire's no whiter Glass is no brighter。
Dance； Prance； Over and over； About and about； With the
top of you under； And the bottom at top； But never a stop。
44
… Page 45…
Men； Women and Ghosts
Turn about； hoop； to the tap of my stick； I follow behind you To
touch and remind you。 Burn and glitter； so white and quick；
Round and round； to the tap of a stick。〃
The hoop flies along between the flower…beds； Swaying the flowers
with the wind of its passing。
Beside the foxglove…border roll the hoops； And the little pink and
white bells shake and jingle Up and down their tall spires； They roll under
the snow…ball bush； And the ground behind them is strewn with white
petals； They swirl round a corner； And jar a bee out of a Canterbury bell；
They cast their shadows for an instant Over a bed of pansies； Catch against
the spurs of a columbine； Jostle the quietness from a cluster of monk's…
hood。 Pat！ Pat！ behind them come the little criss…cross shoes； And the blue
and pink sashes stream out in flappings of colour。
Stella sings： 〃Hoop； hoop； Roll along； Faster bowl along；
Hoop。 Slow； to the turning； Now go！ Go！ Quick！
Here's the stick。 Rat…a…tap…tap it； Pat it； flap it。 Fly like a bird
or a yellow…backed bee； See how soon you can reach that tree。
Here is a path that is perfectly straight。 Roll along； hoop； or we shall
be late。〃
Minna sings： 〃Trip about； slip about； whip about Hoop。
Wheel like a top at its quickest spin； Then； dear hoop； we shall surely
win。 First to the greenhouse and then to the wall Circle and circle；
And let the wind push you； Poke you； Brush you； And not let
you fall。 Whirring you round like a wreath of mist。 Hoopety hoop；
Twist； Twist。〃
Tap！ Tap！ go the hoop…sticks； And the hoops bowl along under a grape
arbour。 For an instant their willow whiteness is green； Pale white…green。
Then they are out in the sunshine； Leaving the half…formed grape clusters
A…tremble under their big leaves。
〃I will beat you； Minna；〃 cries Stella； Hitting her hoop smartly with
her stick。 〃Stella； Stella； we are winning；〃 calls Minna； As her hoop curves
round a bed of clove…pinks。 A humming…bird whizzes past Stella's ear； And
two or three yellow…and…black butterflies Flutter； startled； o