
    ,,*APT] ,,XL
  8,OV]DUE0 / 3T9U$ 6LIE =GOTT5 ON !
TA#4 ,E MANUSCRIPT T HE _H _H \ N[ LAY
"U ! TA#4 ,ONLY "O MANUSCRIPT HE KEPT
GO+1 & T 0 ,BRISS5D5'S 8,EPHEM]A40 ,8
BICYCLE & BLACK SUIT 7 AG 9 PAWN1 &!
TYPE-WRIT] P 7 ONCE M WORRY+ AB ! R5T4
,B S* ?+S NO L;G] BO!R$ HM4 ,HE 0 SEEK+
A NEW ORI5T,N1 & UNTIL T 0 F.D 8 LIFE M/
/& /4
  ,AF S"EAL WEEKS1 :AT HE _H BE5 WAIT+ =
HAPP5$4 ,HE MET ,RU? ON ! /REET4 ,X 0
TRUE1 %E 0 A3OMPANI$ 0H] BRO!R1 ,NORMAN1
& X 0 TRUE T !Y TRI$ 6IGNORE HM & T
,NORMAN ATTEMPT$ 6WAVE HM ASIDE4
  8,IF Y 9T]F]E ) MY SI/]1 ,I'LL CALL AN
(FIC]10 ,NORMAN ?R1T5$4 8,%E DOES N WI%
6SP1K ) Y1 & YR 9SI/;E IS 9SULT40
  8,IF Y P]SI/1 Y'LL H 6CALL T (FIC]1 &
!N Y'LL GET YR "N 9 ! PAP]S10 ,M>T9
ANSW]$ GRIMLY4 8,& N[1 GET \ ( MY WAY &
GET ! (FIC] IF Y WANT TO4 ,I'M GO+ 6TALK
) ,RU?40
  8,I WANT 6H X F YR [N LIPS10 HE SD
6H]4
  ,%E 0 PALE & TREMBL+1 B %E HELD UP &
LOOK$ 9QUIR+LY4
  8,! "Q ,I ASK$ 9 MY LR10 HE PROMPT$4
  ,NORMAN MADE AN IMPATI5T MOVE;T1 B
,M>T9 *ECK$ HM )A SWIFT LOOK4
  ,%E %OOK H] H1D4
  8,IS ALL ? ( YR [N FREE W80 HE DEM&$4
  8,X IS40 ,%E SPOKE 9 A L[1 FIRM VOICE
&) DELIB],N4 8,X IS ( MY [N FREE W4 ,Y H
4GRAC$ ME S T ,I AM A%AM$ 6MEET MY FRS4
,!Y >E ALL TALK+ AB ME1 ,I "K4 ,T IS ALL
,I C TELL Y4 ,Y H MADE ME V UNHAPPY1 &
,I N"E WI% 6SEE Y AG40
  8,FRS6 ,GOSSIP6 ,NEWSPAP] MISREPORTS6
,SURELY S* ?+S >E N /R;G] ?AN LOVE6 ,I C
ONLY 2LIEVE T Y N"E LOV$ ME40
  ,A BLU% DROVE ! PALLOR F H] FACE4
  8,AF :AT HAS PASS$80 %E SD FA9TLY4
8,M>T91 Y D N "K :AT Y >E SAY+4 ,I AM N
-MON40
  8,Y SEE1 %E DOESN'T WANT 6H ANY?+ 6D )
Y10 ,NORMAN BLURT$ \1 />T+ ON ) H]4
  ,M>T9 /OOD ASIDE & LET !M PASS1 FUMBL+
UNCONSCI\SLY 9 8 COAT POCKET =! TOBA3O &
BR[N PAP]S T 7 N "!4
  ,X 0 A L;G WALK 6,NOR? ,OAKL&1 B X 0 N
UNTIL HE W5T UP ! /EPS & 5T]$ 8 ROOM T
HE KNEW HE _H WALK$ X4 ,HE F.D HMF SITT+
ON ! $GE (! B$ & />+ AB HM L AN AWAK5$
SOMNAMBULI/4 ,HE NOTIC$ 8,OV]DUE0 LY+ ON
! TA# & DREW UP 8 *AIR & R1*$ = 8 P54
,"! 0 9 8 NATURE A LOGICAL -PUL.N T[>D
-PLETE;S4 ,"H 0 "S?+ UND"O4 ,X _H BE5
DEF]R$ AG/ ! -PLE;N ( "S?+ ELSE4 ,N[ T
"S?+ ELSE _H BE5 F9I%$1 & HE WD APPLY
HMF 6? TASK UNTIL X 0 F9I%$4 ,:AT HE WD
D NEXT HE DID N "K4 ,ALL T HE DID "K 0 T
A CLIMACT]IC 9 8 LIFE _H BE5 ATTA9$4 ,A
P]IOD _H BE5 R1*$1 & HE 0 R.D+ X (F 9
"WMAN-L FA%ION4 ,HE 0 N CURI\S AB !
FUTURE4 ,HE WD SOON 5 F9D \ :AT X HELD 9
/ORE = HM4 ,:AT"E X WAS1 X DID N MATT]4
,NO?+ SEEM$ 6MATT]4
  ,= FIVE "DS HE TOIL$ ON AT 8,OV]DUE10
GO+ NO":1 SEE+ NOBODY1 & EAT+ M1GRELY4
,ON ! MORN+ (! SIX? "D ! PO/MAN BR"\ HM
A ?9 LR F ! $ITOR ( ,,! ,,P>!NON4 ,A
GL.E TOLD HM T 8,EPHEM]A0 0 A3EPT$4 8,WE
H SUBMITT$ ! POEM 6,MR4 ,C>TW"R ,BRUCE10
! $ITOR W5T ON 6SAY1 8& HE HAS REPORT$ S
FAVORABLY ^U X T WE _C LET X G4 ,Z AN
E>NE/ ( \R PL1SURE 9 PUBLI%+ ! POEM1 LET
ME TELL Y T WE H SET X =! ,AUGU/ NUMB]1
\R ,JULY NUMB] 2+ ALR MADE UP4 ,K9DLY
EXT5D \R PL1SURE & \R ?ANKS 6,MR4
,BRISS5D54 ,PL1SE S5D 0RETURN MAIL 8
PHOTOGRAPH & BIOGRAPHICAL DATA4 ,IF \R
HONOR>IUM IS UNSATISFACTORY1 K9DLY
TELEGRAPH U AT ONCE & /ATE :AT Y 3SID] A
FAIR PRICE40
  ,S9CE ! HONOR>IUM !Y _H (F]$ 0 ?REE
HUNDR$ & FIFTY DOLL>S1 ,M>T9 ?"\ X N
WOR? :ILE 6TELEGRAPH4 ,!N1 TOO1 "! 0
,BRISS5D5'S 3S5T 6BE GA9$4 ,WELL1 HE _H
BE5 "R1 AF ALL4 ,"H 0 "O MAGAZ9E $ITOR
:O KNEW R1L POETRY :5 HE SAW X4 ,&!
PRICE 0 SPL5DID1 EV5 ?\< X 0 =! POEM (A
C5TURY4 ,Z = ,C>TW"R ,BRUCE1 ,M>T9 KNEW
T HE 0 ! "O CRITIC = ^: OP9IONS
,BRISS5D5 _H ANY RESPECT4
  ,M>T9 RODE D[N T[N ON AN ELECTRIC C>1
& Z HE WAT*$ ! H\SES & CROSS-/REETS
SLIPP+ 0HE 0 AW>E (A REGRET T
HE 0 N M ELAT$ OV] 8 FR'S SU3ESS & OV] 8
[N SIGNAL VICTORY4 ,! "O CRITIC 9 !
,UNIT$ ,/ATES _H PRON\NC$ FAVORABLY ON !
POEM1 :ILE 8 [N 3T5;N T GD /UFF CD F9D
XS WAY 96! MAGAZ9ES _H PROV$ CORRECT4 ,B
5?USIASM _H LO/ XS SPR+ 9 HM1 & HE F.D T
HE 0 M ANXI\S 6SEE ,BRISS5D5 ?AN HE 0
6C>RY ! GD NEWS4 ,! A3EPT.E ( ,,!
,,P>!NON _H RECALL$ 6HM T DUR+ 8 FIVE
"DS' DEVO;N TO 8,OV]DUE0 HE _H N HE>D F
,BRISS5D5 NOR EV5 ?"\ AB HM4 ,=! F/ "T
,M>T9 R1LIZ$ ! DAZE HE _H BE5 IN1 & HE
FELT %AME = HAV+ =GOTT5 8 FR4 ,B EV5 !
%AME DID N BURN V %>PLY4 ,HE 0 NUMB
6EMO;NS ( ANY SORT SAVE ! >TI/IC "OS
3C]N$ 9 ! WRIT+ ( 8,OV]DUE40 ,S F> Z O!R
A6AIRS 7 3C]N$1 HE _H BE5 9 A TR.E4 ,= T
MATT]1 HE 0 / 9 A TR.E4 ,ALL ? LIFE "? :
! ELECTRIC C> :IRR$ SEEM$ REMOTE &
UNR1L1 & HE WD H EXP]I;ED LL 9T]E/ &
LESS %OOK IF ! GRT /"O /EEPLE (! *UR* HE
PASS$ _H SU45LY CRUM#D 6MORT>-DU/ ^U 8
H1D4
  ,AT ! HOTEL HE HURRI$ UP 6,BRISS5D5'S
ROOM1 & HURRI$ D[N AG4 ,! ROOM 0 EMPTY4
,ALL LU7AGE 0 G"O4
  8,DID ,MR4 ,BRISS5D5 L1VE ANY A4RESS80
HE ASK$ ! CL]K1 :O LOOK$ AT HM CURI\SLY
=A MO;T4
  8,HAV5'T Y HE>D80 HE ASK$4
  ,M>T9 %OOK 8 H1D4
  8,:Y1 ! PAP]S 7 FULL ( X4 ,HE 0 F.D
D1D 9 B$4 ,SUICIDE4 ,%OT HMF "? ! H1D40
  8,IS HE BURI$ YET80 ,M>T9 SEEM$ 6HE> 8
VOICE1 L "S "O ELSE'S VOICE1 F A L;G WAY
(F1 ASK+ ! "Q4
  8,NO4 ,! BODY 0 %IPP$ ,EA/ AF ! 9QUE/4
,LAWY]S 5GAG$ 0HIS P SAW 6! >RANGE;TS40
  8,!Y 7 QK AB X1 ,I M/ SAY10 ,M>T9
-;T$4
  8,OH1 ,I DON'T "K4 ,X HAPP5$ FIVE "DS
AGO40
  8,FIVE "DS AGO80
  8,YES1 FIVE "DS AGO40
  8,OH10 ,M>T9 SD Z HE TURN$ & W5T \4
  ,AT ! CORN] HE /EPP$ 96! ,WE/]N ,UNION
& S5T A TELEGRAM 6,,! ,,P>!NON1 ADVIS+
!M 6PROCE$ )! PUBLIC,N (! POEM4 ,HE _H 9
8 POCKET B FIVE C5TS ) : 6PAY 8 C>F>E
HOME1 S HE S5T ! MESSAGE COLLECT4
  ,ONCE 9 8 ROOM1 HE RESUM$ 8 WRIT+4 ,!
"DS & NI<TS CAME & W5T1 & HE SAT AT 8
TA# & WROTE ON4 ,HE W5T NO":1 SAVE 6!
PAWNBROK]1 TOOK NO EX]CISE1 & ATE
ME?ODIC,Y :5 HE 0 HUNGRY & _H "S?+
6COOK1 & J Z ME?ODIC,Y W5T )\T :5 HE _H
NO?+ 6COOK4 ,-POS$ Z ! /ORY WAS1 9
ADV.E1 *APT] 0*APT]1 HE N"E!.S SAW &
DEVELOP$ AN OP5+ T 9CR1S$ ! P[] ( X1 ?\<
X NECESSITAT$ TW5TY ?\S& A4I;NAL ^WS4 ,X
0 N T "! 0 ANY VITAL NE$ T ! ?+ %D 2
WELL D"O1 B T 8 >TI/IC CANONS -PELL$ HM
6D X WELL4 ,HE "W$ ON 9 ! DAZE1 /RANGELY
DETA*$ F ! _W >.D HM1 FEEL+ L A FAMILI>
<O/ AM;G ^! LIT]>Y TRAPP+S ( 8 =M] LIFE4
,HE REMEMB]$ T "S "O _H SD T A <O/ 0 !
_S (A MAN :O 0 D1D & :O DID N H S5SE 5
6"K X2 & HE PAUS$ =! MO;T 6WOND] IF HE 7
RE,Y D1D DID UNAW>E ( X4
  ,CAME ! "D :5 8,OV]DUE0 0 F9I%$4 ,!
AG5T (! TYPE-WRIT] FIRM _H -E =! MA*9E1
& HE SAT ON ! B$ :ILE ,M>T91 ON ! "O
*AIR1 TYP$ ! LA/ PAGES (! F9AL *APT]4
8,F9IS10 HE WROTE1 9 CAPITALS1 AT ! 5D1
& 6HM X 0 9DE$ F9IS4 ,HE WAT*$ ! TYPE-
WRIT] C>RI$ \ ! DOOR )A FEEL+ ( RELIEF1
!N W5T OV] & LAY D[N ON ! B$4 ,HE 0 FA9T
F HUNG]4 ,FOOD _H N PASS$ 8 LIPS 9
?IRTY-SIX H\RS1 B HE DID N ?9K AB X4 ,HE
LAY ON 8 BACK1 ) CLOS$ EYES1 & DID N ?9K
AT ALL1 :ILE ! DAZE OR /UPOR SL[LY WELL$
UP1 SATURAT+ 8 3SCI\S;S4 ,HALF 9
DELIRIUM1 HE 2GAN MUTT]+ AL\D ! L9ES (
AN ANONYM\S POEM ,BRISS5D5 _H BE5 FOND (
QUOT+ 6HM4 ,M>IA1 LI/5+ ANXI\SLY \TSIDE
8 DOOR1 0 P]TURB$ 0HIS MONOTON\S UTT].E4
,! ^WS 9 !MVS 7 N SIGNIFICANT 6H]1 B !
FACT T HE 0 SAY+ !M WAS4 8,I H D"O10 0 !
BURD5 (! POEM4












8',I H D"O --
,PUT 0! LUTE4
,S;G & S++ SOON >E OV]
,Z ! AIRY %ADES T HOV]
,9 AM;G ! PURPLE CLOV]4
,I H D"O --
,PUT 0! LUTE4
,ONCE ,I SANG Z E>LY ?RU%ES
,S+ AM;G ! DEWY BU%ES2
,N[ ,I'M MUTE4
,I AM L A WE>Y L9NET1
,= MY ?ROAT HAS NO S;G 9 X2
,I H _H MY S++ M9UTE4

,I H D"O4
,PUT 0! LUTE4'0

  ,M>IA CD /& X NO L;G]1 & HURRI$ AWAY
6! /OVE1 ": %E FILL$ A QU>T-B[L ) S\P1
PUTT+ 96X ! LION'S %>E ( *OPP$ M1T &
VEGETA#S : H] LADLE SCRAP$ F ! BOTTOM (!
POT4 ,M>T9 R\S$ HMF & SAT UP & 2GAN
6EAT1 2T SPOON;LS REASSUR+ ,M>IA T HE _H
N BE5 TALK+ 9 8 SLEEP & T HE DID N H ANY
FEV]4
  ,AF %E LEFT HM HE SAT DRE>ILY1 )
DROOP+ %\LD]S1 ON ! $GE (! B$1 GAZ+ AB
HM ) LACK-LU/RE EYES T SAW NO?+ UNTIL !
TORN WRAPP] (A MAGAZ9E1 : _H -E 9 !
MORN+'S MAIL & : LAY UNOP5$1 %OT A GL1M
( LI<T 96HIS D>K5$ BRA94 ,X IS ,,!
,,P>!NON1 HE ?"\1 ! ,AUGU/ ,,P>!NON1 & X
M/ 3TA9 8,EPHEM]A40 ,IF ONLY ,BRISS5D5 7
"H 6SEE6
  ,HE 0 TURN+ ! PAGES (! MAGAZ9E1 :5
SU45LY HE /OPP$4 8,EPHEM]A0 _H BE5
F1TUR$1 ) GORGE\S H1D-PIECE & ,BE>DSLEY-
L M>G9 DECOR,NS4 ,ON "O SIDE (! H1D-
PIECE 0 ,BRISS5D5'S PHOTOGRAPH1 ON ! O!R
SIDE 0 ! PHOTOGRAPH ( ,SIR ,JOHN ,VALUE1
! ,BRITI% ,AMBASSADOR4 ,A PRELIM9>Y
$ITORIAL NOTE QUOT$ ,SIR ,JOHN ,VALUE Z
SAY+ T "! 7 NO POETS 9 ,AM]ICA1 &!
PUBLIC,N ( 8,EPHEM]A0 0 ,,! ,,P>!NON'S4
8,"!1 TAKE T1 ,SIR ,JOHN ,VALUE60
,C>TW"R ,BRUCE 0 DESCRIB$ Z ! GRTE/
CRITIC 9 ,AM]ICA1 & HE 0 QUOT$ Z SAY+ T
8,EPHEM]A0 0 ! GRTE/ POEM "E WRITT5 9
,AM]ICA4 ,& F9,Y1 ! $ITOR'S =E^W 5D$ )3
8,WE H N YET MADE UP \R M9DS 5TIRELY Z
6! M]ITS ( 8,EPHEM]A02 P]H WE % N"E 2 A#
6D S4 ,B WE H R1D X (T51 WOND]+ AT ! ^WS
& _! >RANGE;T1 WOND]+ ": ,MR4 ,BRISS5D5
GOT !M1 & H[ HE CD FA/5 !M TGR40 ,!N
FOLL[$ ! POEM4
  8,PRETTY GD ?+ Y DI$1 ,BRISS1 OLD
MAN10 ,M>T9 MURMUR$1 LETT+ ! MAGAZ9E
SLIP 2T 8 KNEES 6! FLOOR4
  ,! *1P;S & VULG>;Y ( X 0 NAUS1T+1 &
,M>T9 NOT$ APA!TIC,Y T HE 0 N NAUS1T$ V
M*4 ,HE WI%$ HE CD GET ANGRY1 B DID N H
5]GY 5 6TRY4 ,HE 0 TOO NUMB4 ,8 BLOOD 0
TOO 3G1L$ 6A3EL]ATE 6! SWIFT TIDAL FL[ (
9DIGN,N4 ,AF ALL1 :AT DID X MATT]8 ,X 0
ON A P> ) ALL ! RE/ T ,BRISS5D5 _H
3DEMN$ 9 B\RGEOIS SOCIETY4
  8,POOR ,BRISS10 ,M>T9 -MUN$2 8HE WD
N"E H =GIV5 ME40
  ,R\S+ HMF ) AN EF=T1 HE POSSESS$ HMF
(A BOX : _H ONCE 3TA9$ TYPE-WRIT] PAP]4
,GO+ "? XS 3T5TS1 HE DREW =? ELEV5 POEMS
: 8 FR _H WRITT54 ,^! HE TORE L5G?WISE &
CROSSWISE & DROPP$ 96! WA/E BASKET4 ,HE
DID X LANGUIDLY1 &1 :5 HE _H F9I%$1 SAT
ON ! $GE (! B$ />+ BLANKLY 2F HM4
  ,H[ L;G HE SAT "! HE DID N "K1 UNTIL1
SU45LY1 ACR 8 SI<T.S VI.N HE SAW =M A
L;G HORIZONTAL L9E ( :ITE4 ,X 0 CURI\S4
,B Z HE WAT*$ X GR[ 9 DEF9ITE;S HE SAW T
X 0 A CORAL REEF SMOK+ 9 ! :ITE ,PACIFIC
SURGES4 ,NEXT1 9 ! L9E ( BR1K]S HE MADE
\ A SMALL CANOE1 AN \TRI7] CANOE4 ,9 !
/]N HE SAW A "Y BRONZ$ GOD 9 SC>LET HIP-
CLO? DIPP+ A FLA%+ PA4LE4 ,HE RECOGNIZ$
HM4 ,HE 0 ,MOTI1 ! "YE/ SON ( ,TATI1 !
*IEF1 & ? 0 ,TAHITI1 & 2Y T SMOK+ REEF
LAY ! SWEET L& ( ,PAP>A &! *IEF'S GRASS
H\SE 0! RIV]'S M\?4 ,X 0 ! 5D (! "D1 &
,MOTI 0 -+ HOME F ! FI%+4 ,HE 0 WAIT+ =!
RU% (A BIG BR1K] ":ON 6JUMP ! REEF4 ,!N
HE SAW HMF1 SITT+ =W>D 9 ! CANOE Z HE _H
(T5 SAT 9 ! PA/1 DIPP+ A PA4LE T WAIT$
,MOTI'S ^W 6DIG 9 L MAD :5 ! TURQUOISE
WALL (! GRT BR1K] ROSE 2H !M4 ,NEXT1 HE
0 NO L;G] AN ONLOOK] B 0 HMF 9 ! CANOE1
,MOTI 0 CRY+ \1 !Y 7 BO? ?RU/+ H>D ) _!
PA4LES1 RAC+ ON ! /EEP FACE (! FLY+
TURQUOISE4 ,"U ! B[ ! WAT] 0 HISS+ Z F A
/1M JET1 ! AIR 0 FILL$ ) DRIV5 SPRAY1 "!
0 A RU% & RUM# & L;G-E*O+ RO>1 &! CANOE
FLOAT$ ON ! PLACID WAT] (! LAGOON4 ,MOTI
LAU<$ & %OOK ! SALT WAT] F 8 EYES1 & TGR
!Y PA4L$ 9 6! P.D$-CORAL B1* ": ,TATI'S
GRASS WALLS "? ! COCOANUT-PALMS %[$
GOLD5 9 ! SETT+ SUN4
  ,! PICTURE FAD$1 & 2F 8 EYES /RET*$ !
4ORD] ( 8 SQUALID ROOM4 ,HE /ROVE 9 VA9
6SEE ,TAHITI AG4 ,HE KNEW "! 0 S++ AM;G
! TREES & T ! MAID5S 7 DANC+ 9 !
MOONLI<T1 B HE CD N SEE !M4 ,HE CD SEE
ONLY ! LITT]$ WRIT+-TA#1 ! EMPTY SPACE
": ! TYPE-WRIT] _H /OOD1 &! UNWA%$ W9D[-
PANE4 ,HE CLOS$ 8 EYES )A GROAN1 &
SLEPT4











