Волны

           ’Itisstrangethatwe,whoarecapableofsomuchsuffering,shouldinflictsomuchsuffering.StrangethatthefaceofapersonwhomIscarcelyknowsavethatIthinkwemetonceonthegangwayofashipboundforAfrica--amereadumbrationofeyes,cheeks,nostrils--shouldhavepowertoinflictthisinsult.Youlook,eat,smile,arebored,pleased,annoyed--thatisallIknow.Yetthisshadowwhichhassatbymeforanhourortwo,thismaskfromwhichpeeptwoeyes,haspowertodrivemeback,topinionmedownamongallthoseotherfaces,toshutmeinahotroom;tosendmedashinglikeamothfromcandletocandle.

           ’Butwait.Whiletheyaddupthebillbehindthescreen,waitonemoment.NowthatIhavereviledyoufortheblowthatsentmestaggeringamongpeelingsandcrumblingsandoldscrapsofmeat,IwillrecordinwordsofonesyllablehowalsounderyourgazewiththatcompulsiononmeIbegintoperceivethis,thatandtheother.Theclockticks;thewomansneezes;thewaitercomes--thereisagradualcomingtogether,runningintoone,accelerationandunification.Listen:awhistlesounds,wheelsrush,thedoorcreaksonitshinges.Iregainthesenseofthecomplexityandtherealityandthestruggle,forwhichIthankyou.Andwithsomepity,someenvyandmuchgoodwill,takeyourhandandbidyougoodnight.

           ’Heavenbepraisedforsolitude!Iamalonenow.Thatalmostunknownpersonhasgone,tocatchsometrain,totakesomecab,togotosomeplaceorpersonwhomIdonotknow.Thefacelookingatmehasgone.Thepressureisremoved.Hereareemptycoffee-cups.