81

A

that. At least, To me. I had th

ith her just wha

tree. I did kiss

I was through, She'd seek my

Evening after

get her to talk

ever would. T

e. None of my

or hers, she d

e general goss

they had. The

ys deserted wh

nter, so the ti

ied me a little, For I thought i

the schools.

ed normal scho

f they wanted to

ence to things b

. I left the Fe

going off to co

e more I resented

er downright l

V

re was no excu

so easy. Hell!

was certain th

udder in a Wi

rgetic Swedes, Or whatever the

I thought I di

ummer she'd be

ed, I'd be gone

mned lazy for

about forgettin

least the ones

they dont know h

completely was

Avey's hand. On

r. The writing

rote on a torn

elope had a fa

A single line

l and was goin

th the reflectio

so indolent as

consin that year

mingly forgott

urses, I caugh

A

o better than

he street. The

ited creature

ow

ears passed. T

r something or

I could recogniz

l relation to h

wanted to see

was in New Yor

d and bummed

hip-yard and wa

to meet her. Fa

o pay my fare

June, just at t

on the easter

as ever, leanin

nder the recentl

e had almost pa

She showed no

yes had grown h

till sleepy-large

ncluded — indif

hat she said.

84

V

was, so I asked

hom she was w

he trouble to in

d a taxi, and d

n of what she h

some fine, cost

, and then adde

skirt. Let it

it came from t

in Soldier's H

I want the si

. Robins sprin

leave their fo

e that the gras

h because of t

ton lies below.

ainst the darke

sky of Washi

m the South, so

tile shower upon

on my hill in S

eman who watch

go there alone,

here to find the

85

A

earts. I tell h

a girl to do the

r. I look deep

gs, and he belie

it is on the gra

me in the sam

r other black sp

I went there.

a fair distance

shed they wou

e a tin spoon i

ward Glee Clu

ng "Deep River, Deep River, "

ents, Avey had

a folk-tune.

Pillowed her h

arm. Kissed th

listened, or s

say. I traced

days up to the

I could under

n nature and t

a larger life

apable Washin

V

at need. How i

proper channels, Her emotions ha

fully I thought, About an art

way for women t

hope, and build

ing of that day

s to her. I san

oice, a promis

der why her ha

le pressure. My

ess came back.

riend passed b

ent away, I beg

lities. An imme

ver me. Then I

were closed. He

gular as a chil

d. I was afrai

I guess it was, She lay ther

ed. I wanted

boxes of young

sed her head t

A

I got up and w

man friend and

, and bent over

ht for her to st

t away before

ket was borrowe

t beside her th

n steal over

ooked like a g

m sea. Avey's f

eavy. She did n

ed beauty of t

r. Orphan-

88

EH

s black hi

rm a mill

moon, Bees returning through the moon, Silver bees inten

orld comb, And I, a drone, Lyi

r honey, Wish that I mig

in some far-off

89

M EN

s gorgeously ab

, Rumbling in the wind, Stretchi

ipped

n by

ding

in like gol

arth flying fro

90

EA

er alleys, of

nd near-beer

of Howard Theat

z songs. Blac

above the tick a

s. At night, th

e in to stamp

, road-shows vo

of black people

t to the nigger l

ns, of the Pood

ouse is dark, And the walls are

l John comes wi

bbing to a subt

dark air grows

nager's brothe

the theater, just

down upon hi

half his face

ce is in shadow