mood miscellanea

WINDOW SHOPPING

I saw you, strolling down the street together. "Two girls out shopping," saug Convention said. Convention is at times so unobserving,

Convention overlooked the carefree tread Of steps aimed toward pursuit of happiness Rather than mundane errands; did not spy The intertwining of slim, gentle fingers, The furtive glances, half bold, yet half shy. Your touseled, unbound tresses intermingled As you both bent close, apparently to staro At dresses in the windows. (Those same windows reflected two eostatic faces there!)

No, Convention did not see, she would have frowned, But I saw, and my heart was deeply moved

As I recalled my days of gay romancing.

I smiled and wished you well, for I approved.

Reprinted by permission from VICE VERSA, Volume 1, No. 1, June, 1947.

14

SMALL ROOMS

"This is the beginning of intolerance and error that shrivels men's souls and makes angry flaming scars of their mouths:

Small rooms that lock

them off from their brothers;

Little rooms built by

shame and ignorance."

Ston Russell