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painstakingly tried To hold it angled so the bunched and prismed rays
Should leap upon each other and spring into a blaze。 Sharp as a wheeling
edge of disked； carnation flame； Gem…hard and cutting upward； slowly the
round sun came。 The arrowed fire caught the burning…glass and glanced；
Split to a multitude of pointed spears； and lanced； A deeper； hotter flame； it
took the incense pile Which welcomed it and broke into a little smile Of
yellow flamelets； creeping； crackling； thrusting up； A golden； red…slashed
lily in a lacquer cup。
〃O ye Fire and Heat； Bless ye the Lord； Praise Him； and Magnify
Him for ever。 O ye Winter and Summer； Bless ye the Lord； Praise
Him； and Magnify Him for ever。 O ye Nights and Days； Bless ye
the Lord； Praise Him； and Magnify Him for ever。 O ye Lightnings
and Clouds； Bless ye the Lord； Praise Him； and Magnify Him for
ever。〃
A moment so it hung； wide…curved； bright…petalled； seeming A chalice
foamed with sunrise。 The Boy woke from his dreaming。 A spike of flame
had caught the card of butterflies； The oriole's nest took fire； soon all four
galleries Where he had spread his treasures were become one tongue Of
gleaming； brutal fire。 The Boy instantly swung His pitcher off the wash…
stand and turned it upside down。 The flames drooped back and sizzled；
and all his senses grown Acute by fear； the Boy grabbed the quilt from his
bed And flung it over all； and then with aching head He watched the early
sunshine glint on the remains Of his holy offering。 The lacquer stand had
stains Ugly and charred all over； and where the golden pear Had been； a
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Men； Women and Ghosts
deep； black hole gaped miserably。 His dear Treasures were puffs of ashes；
only the stones were there； Winking in the brightness。
The clock upon the stair Struck five； and in the kitchen someone shook a
grate。 The Boy began to dress； for it was getting late。
Spring Day
Bath
The day is fresh…washed and fair； and there is a smell of tulips and
narcissus in the air。
The sunshine pours in at the bath…room window and bores through the
water in the bath…tub in lathes and planes of greenish…white。 It cleaves
the water into flaws like a jewel； and cracks it to bright light。
Little spots of sunshine lie on the surface of the water and dance；
dance； and their reflections wobble deliciously over the ceiling； a stir of
my finger sets them whirring； reeling。 I move a foot； and the planes of
light in the water jar。 I lie back and laugh； and let the green…white water；
the sun…flawed beryl water； flow over me。 The day is almost too bright to
bear； the green water covers me from the too bright day。 I will lie here
awhile and play with the water and the sun spots。
The sky is blue and high。 A crow flaps by the window； and there is a
whiff of tulips and narcissus in the air。
Breakfast Table
In the fresh…washed sunlight； the breakfast table is decked and white。 It
offers itself in flat surrender； tendering tastes； and smells； and colours； and
metals； and grains； and the white cloth falls over its side； draped and wide。
Wheels of white glitter in the silver coffee…pot； hot and spinning like
catherine…wheels； they whirl； and twirl and my eyes begin to smart； the
little white； dazzling wheels prick them like darts。 Placid and peaceful； the
rolls of bread spread themselves in the sun to bask。 A stack of butter…pats；
pyramidal； shout orange through the white； scream； flutter； call： 〃Yellow！
Yellow！ Yellow！〃 Coffee steam rises in a stream； clouds the silver tea…
service with mist； and twists up into the sunlight； revolved； involuted；
suspiring higher and higher； fluting in a thin spiral up the high blue sky。
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Men； Women and Ghosts
A crow flies by and croaks at the coffee steam。 The day is new and fair
with good smells in the air。
Walk
Over the street the white clouds meet； and sheer away without
touching。
On the sidewalks； boys are playing marbles。 Glass marbles； with
amber and blue hearts； roll together and part with a sweet clashing noise。
The boys strike them with black and red striped agates。 The glass marbles
spit crimson when they are hit； and slip into the gutters under rushing
brown water。 I smell tulips and narcissus in the air； but there are no
flowers anywhere； only white dust whipping up the street； and a girl with a
gay Spring hat and blowing skirts。 The dust and the wind flirt at her
ankles and her neat； high…heeled patent leather shoes。 Tap； tap； the little
heels pat the pavement； and the wind rustles among the flowers on her hat。
A water…cart crawls slowly on the other side of the way。 It is green
and gay with new paint； and rumbles contentedly； sprinkling clear water
over the white dust。 Clear zigzagging water； which smells of tulips and
narcissus。
The thickening branches make a pink ‘grisaille' against the blue sky。
Whoop！ The clouds go dashing at each other and sheer away just in
time。 Whoop！ And a man's hat careers down the street in front of the
white dust； leaps into the branches of a tree； veers away and trundles
ahead of the wind； jarring the sunlight into spokes of rose…colour and
green。
A motor…car cuts a swathe through the bright air； sharp…beaked；
irresistible； shouting to the wind to make way。 A glare of dust and
sunshine tosses together behind it； and settles down。 The sky is quiet and
high； and the morning is fair with fresh…washed air。
Midday and Afternoon
Swirl of crowded streets。 Shock and recoil of traffic。 The stock…still
brick facade of an old church； against which the waves of people lurch and
withdraw。 Flare of sunshine down side…streets。 Eddies of light in the
windows of chemists' shops； with their