After 5 days, return to
WILLIAM C. WILLIAMS, M. D.,
131 W. Passaic Ave.,
RUTHERFORD, N. J.

THE SHADOW

Soft as the bed in the earth

where a stone has lain;

So soft, so smooth and so dark -

Spring closes me in with her arms and her hands.

Rich as the smell of new earth

that is loosed from a stone

That has lain breathing the damp through its pores

Spring closes me in with her blossomy hair,

brings dark to my eyes.

After 5 days, return to
WILLIAM C. WILLIAMS, M. D.,
9 Ridge Road,
RUTHERFORD, N. J.

Do not think
It is fear of these
That holds me
From you likewise -
I would fling them by in a moment
And the roof menders there,
Peacefully hammering,
Would rush down
And carry me away -
Even so it would be
A wise thing to have done
Were it not
That this hide
I have drawn about myself
To shield me
Has bound me more subtly
Than you have imagined.

It is no good
To strip the bark
From the old tree
It will not be young again -
I have bound myself
Better than that!

Kiss the wind when it kills you
Lean your surfaces
Against the frost
With your whole heart -
You have taken the counsel
Before given.

## Self - Portrait 2.

It is raining.
Fall!
You whitelivered kill-joys
Fall!
You heavy bellied sluts,
Fall from the sky!
Fall onto the edged leaves,
Let the bayonettes of the grass
Receive you -
Drive you to the ground:
There be broken finally
- and your life ends!

As for me - ?
Beat upon my head
And upon my shoulders
You frighten me but little.
Let your very eyes pop out
Against the feather I wear
And dance down the edge
Of my sombrero - !
I'll keep my way in spite of all.
Only the flowers
Are kind to them -
Lips opening upward.

Idyl

They say to me, "There is
A roaring god outside
Beating the trees!"
I go hurridly
And find
Two unfortunates
Cowering in the wand.
I think of this
As I lie here, warm
Watching the blinding white
That was saffron
Change to steel blue
Behind shaking trees.
I raise my head and
Sight leaps twenty miles
To the bleak horizon,
"But my desires,"
I say to myself
"Are thirty years
Behind all this."
It is late.
My wife comes out
And tucks me in
Telling me
Not to hurry -
- Not to hurry!
She brings our baby
And puts him