10 A. M.

Propped up within the hideous bed

My wife lies reading Henry James,

A drama of inaction played

By heroines with antique names

In vistas custombuilt to fit

The evanescence of their words.

Next door the neighbor's children sit

Loudly ambushing fifths and thirds

While down the tree and up the roof

Careen two brown and actual squirrels,

Of genius each more moving proof

Than all art's deathless boys and girls.