60 Critical Quarterly, vol. 26, no. 4

as midsummer blows toward the fall . . . How many more

years shall we leave our- selves? The radio news crackles in the light of their conviction, radiating all their ends, and ours.

BARBARA HARDY

Conversation piece

I was going to tell you that She got a kick out of being ninety You‘d have smiled at the kin and kissing The room was rich with wishes I’d have liked some help with the champagne

I started to tell you about The child‘s eyes lit With recognition Of the calves feeding at the manger When we took her down to the barn at Christmas

I wanted to tell you how I went to the new gallery at Dijon They’ve got the Still-life with Saucepan Which tore the skin off our eyes As we saw paint for the first time

Another onesided conversation So much seems to have happened And I’m dying to tell you about i t You‘ve got every reason for silence But don’t leave me to do all the talking