- ZUDORA
- (from "Turns and
Movies")
by: Conrad Aiken (1889-1973)
- ERE on the
pale beach, in the darkness;
With the full moon just to rise;
They sit alone, and look over the sea,
Or into each other's eyes. . .
-
- She pokes her parasol into the sleepy sand,
Or sifts the lazy whiteness through her hand.
-
- 'A lovely night,' he says, 'the moon,
Comes up for you and me.
Just like a blind old spotlight there,
Fizzing across the sea!'
-
- She pays no heed, nor even turns her head:
He slides his arm around her waist instead.
-
- 'Why don't we do a sketch together--
Those songs you sing are swell.
Where did you get them, anyway?
They suit you awfully well.'
-
- She will not turn to him--will not resist.
Impassive, she submits to being kissed.
-
- 'My husband wrote all four of them.
You know,--my husband drowned.
He was always sickly, soon depressed. . .'
But still she hears the sound
-
- Of a stateroom door shut hard, and footsteps going
Swiftly and steadily, and the dark sea flowing.
-
- She hears the dark sea flowing, and sees his eyes
Hollow with disenchantment, sick surprise,--
-
- And hate of her whom he had loved too well. . .
She lowers her eyes, demurely prods a shell.
-
- 'Yes. We might do an act together.
That would be very nice.'
He kisses her passionately, and thinks
She's carnal, but cold as ice.
MORE
POEMS BY CONRAD AIKEN |
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