Commonwealth of Wings by Alexander Pamela

Author:Alexander, Pamela
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Wesleyan University Press
Published: 1991-03-05T16:00:00+00:00

Edinburgh

This morning I opened a window onto yet a third city

and leaned out, hands on the sill, to look for persons

coming to see my work describing Birds those exponents

of magnificence, of wilderness unimaginable

in this smoky place—creatures who bind the sky

to the earth these sensible people walk upon, the earth

that feels them walking!—Well. I stood there

staring out, so long

that ladies & errand boys who passed below

must have marked me mad—then I slapped the sill

and bolted down the stairs straight to Mr Neill’s counting house

at Fish Market Close, along the row of clerks

whose faces turned up as I passed, their paleness like foam sliding

along a wave top. I told their employer I was a simple person

of direct manner and did not wish to offend,

but as he had not responded to my letter of introduction since two days

I begged him to tell me if I was not good enough to be considered

and I would be on my way. I would have said more

but he took both his hat and my arm

and propelled me to the business of Mr Lizars, Engraver,

who took my other arm, and so to my lodging.

My anxiety was great, overcoming my embarrassment

upon noticing I had worn slippers the whole event. (This business

of civilization is fiddly—one must not walk out without hat and key

and purse, I disprefer it.) Mr Lizars talked all the way of Selby,

had I seen his drawings? They were superb! None better! I must! Etc!

I showed Cock Turkey, Hawk pouncing on partridges, Mocking bird

with Rattlesnake. His chatter stopped

as though some agitated parrot, shot,

dropped from its branch. He said “My god I have never seen

the like.” At Great Footed Hawks his arms fell to his side.

“I will publish these.” Dear friend we have done it.

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