And then the mother said: “You two are fated To be as blind as two cliffs to each other. You need I think a spiritual re-birth, Something that you could have upon this earth. For I can see a book or handkerchief Would give one happiness and one relief From hardness which is girding in your soul. That would be rich return for small outlay, God give us all another New Year’s day.” PLAYING BLIND You used to play at being blind-- Now you are blind--you used to say: “Play I am blind and help me find Where the gate opens on the way.” I laughed at you, we laughed together When you were playing blind, your staff My walking cane of varnished leather-- Now you are blind and still you laugh. You sit beneath the reading lamp With long lashed eyelids closed and pale And make me read you Riley’s Tramp, And Grimm and many a fairy tale. Sometimes I stop--you see I choke Before the tale is done by half-- One’s eyes blur from tobacco smoke-- I cannot laugh now when you laugh. I SHALL NEVER SEE YOU AGAIN If I could only see you again-- If I could only see you again! How can it be I shall never see you again? For the world has shown it can roll on its way And blot you out forever-- And I shall never see you again! I thrill as one who slips on the edge of a gulf When I think I shall never see you again! As a dead leaf is hurtled over the tops of trees; As a dead leaf is dizzily driven through woodland valleys I am driven and tossed in the storms of living. But as the dead leaf escapes the breeze’s fingers, And sinks till it nestles motionless under a rock So in quiet moments I dream Of you, I dream of all that you were-- And I shall never see you again! There never was any one like you! There never yet was such joy in a heart, Such strength to live whatever the fate, Such love to love, Such thought to see how life is good, Such maternal passion, Such breasts eager to nurse child after child-- And I shall never see you again! Your breasts were made to suckle conquerors, Warriors, prophets, Invincible souls Loving life, and loving death at last. And now your breasts are dust, You are all dust, You are lost save for my memory.