[Illustration: The SARDONIC ARM _Bodenheim._-- 1923 COVICI-McGEE CHICAGO] Copyright 1923 Covici-McGee Chicago { This is a limited edition of 575 copies of which } { 550 copies are for sale and this copy is } No. 559. DEDICATED TO MINNA AND FEYDA --They will meet under different circumstances CONTENTS CONCERNING AMERICA 1 CRY, NAKED AND PERSONAL 3 FANTASY 6 HATRED OF METAPHOR AND SIMILE 9 TIME, INFINITY AND ETERNITY DESCEND UPON A BLACK DERBY HAT 11 I WALK UPON A STREET 13 THE INCURABLE MYSTIC ANSWERS WESTERN AMBITIONS 15 PLATONIC NARRATIVE 17 PORTRAITS 19 NEGRO CRIMINAL 26 SHORT STORY IN SONNET FORM 27 FEMININE TALK 28 THE SWORD CONVERSES WITH A PHILOSOPHER 31 CAPTAIN SIMMONS 34 MORE ABOUT CAPTAIN SIMMONS 36 CAPTAIN SIMMONS’ WIFE 37 NORTH CLARK STREET, CHICAGO 38 LANDSCAPE 41 COUNTRY GIRL 42 NONDESCRIPT TYPIST 43 CONCERNING EMOTIONS 44 METAPHYSICAL ELIZABETH 45 DESCRIPTION AND EXHORTATION 46 INEVITABLE 47 THE NEGROES WHO TURNED WHITE 48 EXPRESSIONS ON A CHILD’S FACE 50 PSYCHIC CLOWNS 51 DEAR MINNA 53 VILLAGE CLERK 55 REALISM 56 AMERICAN VAUDEVILLE SHOW 58 Reluctant Foreword