He married this Chinese energy A beauty with money A cat that purred nicely Now he could sit satisfied Forever smoking his pipe Looking out, not having To entertain anyone Not even himself So when I came to visit I could not understand How lead Could catch gold And the more I thought Of this puzzle The more it felt As if granite sat On my head Crushing me under It's weight When I left that day I had one instant Glimmer of springtime When I thought To free her And now When I look back At that day I reach in And bring her out And with it comes That flash Toward summer. And then I mourn.
Irwin R. Shaw - January 31st 1981
And Then I Mourn
He married this Chinese energy
A beauty with money
A cat that purred nicely
Now he could sit satisfied
Forever smoking his pipe
Looking out, not having
To entertain anyone
Not even himself
So when I came to visit
I could not understand
How lead
Could catch gold
And the more I thought
Of this puzzle
The more it felt
As if granite sat
On my head
Crushing me under
It's weight
When I left that day
I had one instant
Glimmer of springtime
When I thought
To free her
And now
When I look back
At that day
I reach in
And bring her out
And with it comes
That flash
Toward summer.
And then I mourn.