Gyre19686942long

V mhmuE,

moil

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To be

a well-favored

fortune: but to write

man

is

a gift of

and read comes

by nature.

William Shakespeare

WINTER 1968 COLLEGE FARMVILLE, VIRGINIA

LONGWOOD VOLUME

4,

NUMBER

1968-1969

2

STAFF

Editors

Brenda Holly, Joan Harrup

Feature Editor

Linda Matthews

Poetry Editor staff

Essay Editor staff

Short Story Editor staff

Art Editor

Donna Barnes Sharon

Collins, Pixie

Owen

Karia Myers

Mary

Alice

Carmody, C.

L.

Dunnavant

Becky Powers Fran Simpers, Louise Dougherty Emily Gillespie and Janie Ragland

Literary Board

Chairmen

Wanda

Board

Fran Simpers, Pixie

Rush, Sharon Dietz

Mary Alice Carmody, Owen, Sharon Collins, C. L. Dunnavant,

Valerie Jones, Lise Worthington, Joan Barnes,

Lynn demons, Sharon Bourne, Kathy Godfrey, Louise Dougherty, Cathy Leary, Tricia Shaw,

Barbara Leahey, Margaret

Webb,

Glenna Lewis, Susan Dupriest

Betty Johnson,

Business

Manager

Stuart Fowlkes

Mary Alice Carmody, Nancy

stafF.

Harris,

Janice Gillenwater, Lynn Clemens, Lois Wells

Reporter

to

Circulation

ROTUNDA Manager

staff.

Nancy Pann

Harris

Wayne

Maureen Shannon,

Beffy Boylan,

Cindy

Randi Eldridge, Karen Knudsen, Emily

Margi

Lanfz, Bonnie

Irvin,

Salle,

Andrews, Sara Drewry,

Edrie Bays, Carol Brotherton, Marcia Harris,

Mary Lee McKeever Typists

Nancy

Harris,

Head;

Betty Boylan, Linda Carter Publicity

Janet Lacy, Peggy Clowdis, Doris Reames, Edrie Bays, Janice Gillenwater, Linda Lew, Shari Heflin, Penny Eberly,

Proofreaders

Jenny Young

Janet Lacy, Peggy Clowdis, Lynn demons,

Sharon Bourne

Exchange Editor

Pam Wayne

Advisors:

Uferary

Miss Etheridge

Business

Mrs. Taliaferro

Art.

Miss Leitch

TABLE OF CONTENTS From In

the Editor

Appreciation, essay

Untitled,

pen and

Age, poenn Untitled,

drawing

ink

Fourth

Street,

6

Bruce

7

Booker

8

Linda Long

short story

Hill,

5

Susan Gilliam

Ruth

object print

Village

4

John McCrimmon Emilia

,

,

J.C.H.

9

Susan Gilliam

graphics

Untitled,

poem

Glenna Lewis

Untitled,

serigraph

Ruth

All's

MaxWell, charcoal drawing

Untitled,

poem

.

Mary

11

Booker

12

Betty Johnson,

The Man, feature

10

Alice

Glenna Lewis

15

16

Diane Schools

.

Defeat, prose impression

Suzanne Turner

Daydream, linoleum

print

Haiku

Day,

Vaughan Charlotte Hooker Sharon Bourne, Joan Harrup Donna Gleason Jenny Young

for a V/inter's

Who's Afraid

of the Big

Study,

drawing

pencil

poem

Bad Wulf, parody

.

Richmond Symphony, poem God's Child, poem Johnny Helps with the Funeral, or Burying Uncle George, short story

Storm, linoleum print

poem

War, graphics With Due Respect, poem

...

17

-

18

Dillard

Visions Inspired by the

Untitled,

13

Carmody

.

.

18 19

20 21

Cookie Howell

22

Catherine Leary

23

Gail Blount

24

Donna Barnes Dillard Vaughan

28

Diahn Simonini

29

28

FROM THE EDITOR It

is

often said that a college literary

magazine should be

a mirror of the Interests of the student body. This

what the Gyre the

magazine

is

lacks depth.

The

lack depth.

It

staff gladly

Is

Gyre received an anonymous

Recently the tion.

The writer congratulated the

of short stories, poetry,

lack It

hold

depth or is

in

his

nanne.

Is

in

He

is

it

good literary judge same criticism we have received

evidently a very

Press

Association

by these two

services.

It

rating

For

Al-

services.

First

Class

this

courage Longwood students and

It

reason,

lacks

we

depth and constantly

the current Issue,

It

for

would both

like to

his

take

praise

whether students or they

like

this

and

be used.

Is

It If

decided not used

and published

opportunity to thank the

in

faculty,

letter writer

and

also

encourage

to write

and

let

criticism

or dislike about the magazine.

us

others,

know what

Only by constantly we hope to

re-evaluating our strengths and weaknesses can

make

the

Gyre more representative

better magazine.

a

faculty to submit works for

reviewed

then read by

Board before will

often reconsidered

Is

Is

have yet

is

a later one.

en-

publication expressing their attitudes and feelings concerning topic.

of the Literary

has not received the highest.

American, rating chiefly because

wider range of topics.

any

In

The material

literary article

whether or not a particular work

I

necessary to with-

though the Gyre consistently has been given a rating

the

both our Associated Collegiate Press and

Columbia Scholastic

All

In

general the works

members

at least six

other words are not thought provoking.

precisely the

the past from

evalua-

work which appeared

art

unfortunate that the writer found

since this in

and

hlowever, he also stated that

issue,

last

letter of

staff for the fine collection

and each

editorial staff,

We

wish to submit.

to refuse an entry for consideration.

by the

If

only because the contributions

accepts any literary or art works

members

students and faculty

exactly

is

Longwood.

trying to accomplish here at

J.C.H.

of

Longwood and

a

APPRECIATION

IN

support

American

the

learn to read

John McCrlmmon

is

essential

tising

faith

and write on they are to

if

put out by

all

comprehend and vocal

Attending such

health.

an individual's vocabulary and

mum "Allons enfants de Let us rise

land. a

in

la

patrie."

Come

children of the father-

praise of the glories of the Students for

Democratic Society. These young men and ability

little

have charitably decided to lead

perfect democracy.

them

their

chance?

Let us follow!

Is

Most promising

it

is

women us

to

of

a

not crotchety to this

no

more deny

new attempt! The democracy (an-

S.D.S. clearly states the nature of a proper

archy)

and the method necessary

anarchy). The end

for

its

not only justifies the

achievement

means

—

the

is

Such a simple and straightforward program (or pogrom?) cannot be denied Alas, there are always a few skeptics.

In the end they make the best converts, but they must first be convinced. A a

too

is

stupid,

ability to use

his

of

speech exist to

No

the vulgar.

point of view

is

is

for maxi-

it

membership.

in

No

emotionally

or

ill-bathed,

ill-dressed,

thus pro-

can greatly enhance

rallies

no discrimination

Freedom

unstable to join.

permitted members,

emphasize the loud and

too liberal to be acceptable.

Even bed partners are a matter of changing choice without bureaucratic

restriction.

no other movement goes to

Truly

such lengths to be democratic!

S.D.S.

is

members

not a

ment discussions and universities.

I

doubt

strengths

busy schedules In

In

—an

fact,

is

little

spent

in

free

time

its

self-improve-

attending classes at our distinguished

Has any reformation

It.

What

partying group.

ferret out of

this

is

one

In

of

history

the

been

as serious?

movement's great

unwillingness to laugh, indeed even a refusal to

closer look at the organization should persuade the most hard-

smile. This should

headed. The honorable ladies and gentlemen

believe that

of social unrest

is

demonstra-

and

strength,

though strong social pressures

(also

end

the means. is it

one

There

results.

the vast array of adver-

local chapters. Their public

tions require both physical

mote good

Members must

education.

in

at least a fourth-grade level. This

life

be good to be

ought

tonic for those fun.

still

silly

enough

to

As

Capitalists these folk are

generally

published

taxpayer); they save

water

they

bills;

buildings

always

good

talk

costly

the

in

(parents)

room, board, and necessities.

Our

and

is

(the

and hot university

they

rentals;

paying

into

hats

people

haircuts

streets

meeting-hall

citizens

propaganda

other

of

enormous amounts on

congregate

avoid

to

Their

first rate.

expense

the

at

almost

for

their

must be doffed

to

such enterprising youths.

Perhaps most important to the S.D.S. symbol system.

All

man on

viable societies

the

street

is

and

social

move-

the

ments must have physical and linguistic symbols for the purpose of Identification. Ess Dee Essers have handled both requirements beautifully. The physical symbol is a gesture which the

is one not to be described in print.

However, it has advantage of getting all members "Involved." Several

symbolic verbal chants

reproduce

them

like this:

S.D.S.

aims

in

to find.

difficult

to

XXXX

or

X%=I/4Z#.

prefers to conduct

so

its

may

own I

discussions of detailed

refer

the

inquisitive

and

reader to any local chapter. These are not hard Every large university has one. Good luck to you.

You may be been.

but these also are

because typographers invariably misspell

and techniques,

interested

exist,

print

as

overwhelmed by these proud people

as

I

have

.

AGE Yes,

Age,

you may bend the back, twist the limbs,

pluck the sweet bloom of youth;

You come

But,

with gnarled hands;

deforming, crippling, suffering are your cohorts.

You

steal that

which was once

the essence of our existence; lovely,

For with

leaving devastation.

The alertness

is

you cannot destroy Hope,

we

dulled;

palsied efforts replace deftness of stroke.

Hope

as our crutch,

labor under the tyranny

with which

you

rule.

Wrinkles are your handicraft;

Do you

delight

In

your embroidery?

Forgetfulness, the silent healer of time,

erases the scars of living ia

and creates the fantasy realm

Once

of childhood.

again the aged cuddle to their dried bosoms

head of youth, and dance painlessly on distorted feet Only to wake to the twisted and contorted pain the tousled

.

of mental crippling.

.

Bruce

^-ii^^^^^^^^Mm^m

— VILLAGE HILL The Quelitos

— Mama,

Papa, Juan, and Retina

the Lafayette district of Pittsmorth back in

in

settled

New

was born. They had moved there from

Retina

after

— had

1955, the year

York, a Wizard-of-Oz city Retina was always hearing about

could

but

not

that the area

was

but the

didn't even wait to

She always had nanne

last

—and

to spell

with

be asked anynnore.

it

— not

Carwell was the big, new high school in

the Village Hill area of the city.

built only

Modern

two years

design, air-

conditioned classrooms, bright colors, the finest furniture and equipnnent nnoney could couldn't get

You

couldn't

"Village

came

much

to

Everyone the

elite,

just

had

Hill,

buy:

was Carwell,

that

get

much Hill

Retina's ears!

better .

.

How knew

."

than

Village

thoroughly exclusive sounding!

meant the

the

moneyed and the privileged. That's why Carwell be Carwell and like nothing ever seen in Pitts-

to

that Village Hill

morth higher education before. Village

Hill

kids

go

finest,

there.

.

.

"My

either.

Pittsmorth

the

"Village

knew, and of

bus

come,

hasn't

meant something: crime,

Hill,"

ran

It

all

way from

the

43rd where the railroad tracks and the

1st

Cliffs

snobbish neighbors, the Village Hillers.

its

back Into

rushed

breath

"Cramley's geography

— proving

lungs;

Retina's

she had

made

just

and, it

test

today, and

so they kicked on the 45 with lunch,

I

forgot

my

I

don't

." .

.

." .

.

lunch!"

Retina caught the fragments of conversation which only a

magically the words

in

lucky

she

the school bus turned on Wilson and 42nd.

and you

Hill

You're

poor immigrants.

from

it

all

sure enough, a second later

".

How

to

winter

Icy

better than that.

Village

down

Street

late!

like

dirty

separated

standard procedure.

ago

and

dirt,

strawberry soda

a

about

you!"

"Lafayette,"

the

new teachers she At Carwell it was

left

of

just

limited.

you're

"Retina,

Q-U-E-L-l-T-O, Retina.

the sake

for

Lafayette was

gone, and

Retina part,

—even

remember.

load of adolescents at 7:30 ever, sat

as

A.M. can produce.

seldom found the courage

by the window the

last

(a

window

to

seat

Retina,

available)

tenements of Lafayette raced by.

how-

She usually

contribute.

and watched

42nd

43rd, the tracks, and up the Cliffs they rumbled.

Street,

To be

sure, Lafayette

on 10th

had

another school

in

have gone there

If

own

its

district.

Higfi— way up She could have— would

Lafayette

the Pittsmorth City Fathers hadn't redrawn

the districts only a year ago.

Now, everyone down on

lower end from 40th Street up had to go to Carwell.

"Dates a gym teacher from Woodward Junior,

and

them and

I

the

saw

." .

"So then

.

"

said, 'Grease the left axle and see if "The Urals can't be in Africa, Miss Cramley, because "Won't somebody loan me fifty cents for lunch?" .'

I

.

.

." .

.

Lafayette hligh was a superstructure of ancient cubicles welded together by paint-peeling walls all old enough to remember the French and Indian War or so Mr. Almano In the history department said.

You couldn't learn half as

—

much

at that place.

(Carwell

girls

You have

giggle at

The bus strained up the

ment They'd be

—

in

to share the

gym

with the boys!

that.)

Cliffs.

Village Hill.

Retina waited.

Her pulse—she

Any mo-

couldn't con-

trol it always quickened at that entrance.

Houses, no tenements, real grass and backyards, and frontyards too.

She supposed then that, in truth, she was learning more than she ever could at old Lafayette— even if her best friends, Maria

and Caria, had

to

go

marry a Carwell

rich

boys

could learn.

man

Caria loved new fashions; what

there.

she could learn at Carwell;

And

or never

Maria, whose desire was to

marry

and get married

for

at

all,

sure.

she would Certainly

date

Maria

—

The bus made only one Village descension on the part of Village

Hill Hill,

sfop.

Ir

was a con-

of course;

were only so many busses, and one had

to

but there

understand the

sacrifices.

A

voice tore into Retina's thoughts, a voice picked up at

the Village Hill stop.

dumb

"I

said

move your

books! You deaf and

As we walk out in the woods become more aware.

I

or somethin'? Stupid Spic."

I

feel life as

he feels

He makes my

Yes, Village Hill taught you twice what Lafayette could.

Oh, would The

air

is

So nippy

life

that

I

—We

smell

Oooo!

Listen,

Linda Long It's

so

could

his!

so sharp, it.

"Taste the clean

And

it.

so rich

my

It's

air,

cold on

Mommie,

Mommie.

my

tongue.

don't you hear?

snowing!"

child perceives.

Glenna Lewis

—

— THE

It

has been said that there are three rapid means of com-

munication: "telegraph, telephone, and first

a

woman." The

two are established and popular methods of transmitting

messages; as

for the third, well

One Sunday ends spent

at

late prediction

wood.

as girls

.

it

that

the

in

to

Dixon

Miss

immediate

visit

future.

campus from week-

had foreseen

a small

that

a

women's college it seemed that

Suddenly

there were no other qualifying schools

in

the state,

spot so perfect for the crime as the here and now. victim

—

As

women's college

Sometime There are

Wait!

Yeah,

Or

college.

If

it's

man would scary

Well then, you leave!

I

don't

could

it!

She's

lots of

Oh,

it

Longwood.

be

couldn't

other small col'eges

in

How

Virginia.

that's small.

It

just

And

couldn't be us.

the buildings are

Westhampfon!

we

But

open

are

In

day.

all

a

small

Anyone

just

Oh,

I

won't

believe

it.

Jeanne Dixon

isn't

always

Besides, she wouldn't have a thing like this pub-

right!

you want to hear

month!

this

Sweetbriar, Strafford, Averette,

lished

right.

small

a

and murder a student!

about Hollins?

anyway.

Gosh, that a

Virginia

in

Are you kidding?

for the

No! She said

did she say?

man's gonna disguise himself and enter

Sure.

prediction?

always

A

and no

out of some 1700 students each girl's chances of being the one seemed to be at least 1700 to 1.

Hey, y'all, have you heard about Jeanne Dixon's latest

What

What? When?

.

home and various other activities, news of a made by Jeanne Dixon found its way to Long-

Word had

Virginia

.

were returning

disguised mass murderer would in

tell

MAN

It

could cause a panic!

that's right.

Let's don't

imagine what would

tell

happen

anybody if

this

else.

got

Can

around

campus?

my light on tonight anyway! hammer under my pillow!

Well, I'm sleeping with

Yeah, and with a

And

many rooms all over campuses in As the rumors spread they grew more Students who generally tore at their hair to get

so

it

went on,

throughout the intense.

ideas

for

state.

themes, art projects,

Longwood Ladies and their counterparts in became quite adept in mapping out intricate

tions.

colleges

of strategy for

other plans

meeting the attacker.

as an alarm, to topple.

arsenals.

P.E.

files,

majors

Cans forks,

hall

was an

began

to live in

Some

one and one

for

all"

"No one

of hair spray

and knives

in

and starch joined growing bedside

and sports enthusiasts became more

and more popular as neighbors came to borrow hockey golf clubs and even tennis rackets. One girl returning to her own room from a late date knocked over two drying racks and a trash can which had been set up to ward off

Whole

halls

one room.

MAN.

dorm," "This

up alone.

sit

affair.

students resorted to witty tactics

suade ThIE that

but no one wanted to

patrols,

for

"all

lives

here anymore,"

attempts to dis-

"You're

"Down

a men's college,"

is

in

Notes appeared on doors to inform him

on the right," "Have you ever thought of

anyone entered a neighbor's room unannounced she was apt to make her presence known at once by causing a row of soft drink bottles and cans, lined up parallel to the door If

with scissors, nail

It

and other assignments sud-

denly developed the most acute and hypersensitive imagina-

up

setting

the

the

in

visiting

wrong

two doors

hall, .

College?" Although, the said prediction originally specified a

mass murderer, many

had

girls

it

was

that he

one-girl

a

man!

Okay,

girls'

y'all,

good

pretty

let's

just

sized school

larger than

And you know

schools anyway.

always around.

calm down.

—

We've got

rooms, what's the reason

I

this

all,

some

this

is

a

of the other

"nighty watch"

is

dorms and all those should be this room? Or nine

sticks,

even

After

It

dorm?

guess so.

But

still

this

a

is

pretty isolated

room,

intruders.

As

the inevitable

A

moment loomed

nearer, studies and sleep

few of the most timid tried to barricade their doors with the heaviest objects they could find their own beds. This plan was not highly successful, however, since

waned.

—

bed lay awake all night watching and waiting for the doorknob to turn. Upperclassmen living in suites considered the possibility of keeping night vigils and the

person

in

the

stuck over here right

in

up here, get

even knew

How

the back of the dorm, us

and scoot on out before anybody

it!

about

my room?

Right by the stairs!

Yeah, and I'm on the ground

What lives at

hie could run

are

we gonna do?

the scene of the crime.

floor.

It

Convenience!

sounds

like

each

of us

Listen in

got

I've

y'all.

a

great

idea!

your room and you can get out,

as

you run down the

Can't you the

hall,

just

it:

and suddenly

If

comes

he

the fire alarm

be a

riot?

here he comes running

down

Wouldn't

hall!

imagine

pull

lorty-five

girls

that

come bounding

out into the hall with books, towels, coats, scarves, shoes,

and pounce

On what.

on him!

Everyone was

nounced such

right

the following morning, things had

in

still

the dining

prediction

at

ail.

hall

that

Things

calmed down somewas anit

Later that day,

alive!

Miss

then

Dixon

returned

had made no to

normal

Longwood.

Betty

Johnson and Glenna Lev

at

He

is

to

me

hie

is

to

me

the sea.

the sand.

Surging strength

Swirling billows, building castles

Constant

Endless realms

Endless depths of light

Of

and

particles, so perfect, so

minute

Yet, each, exemplifying

darkness.

hie

is

to

truth.

me He

the sun.

Sends

forth

its

is

to

me sustenance.

Abounding warmth. rays to those

A

who need.

He

nourishment to

Is

to

the bleakness

and

Makes me able

causing

to withstand.

pain.

He

In

of despair

Yet, burning to the core

And

soul.

whispers courage

me the sky.

Heaven's promise high beyond.

Blue openness

and

Diane Schools

joy.

Secrets lying 'hind a cloud

Of

frothy white

transparency.

16

DEFEAT

There she

sat,

was empty, save cool, crystal

heavily on her chest.

ders. dull

Her

for her.

reflection could

green water of the six-lane pool.

by the chlorine

in

as

Her

If

brown

long,

the water,

Her eyes had and blank

The

alone, on the starting block.

fell

lost their

gym

entire

be seen

in

the

Her head hung

hair, partially

bleached

uncurled on her wet shoul-

usual sparkle.

the very essence of

life

They were now had gone from

them. They did not look at any particular thing but rather stared unmoving at the ripples that were

bathing

suit.

As she looked

There was only one, but

No one

could

it

made by

was cold and

salty

know how sad she was.

thought back to the minutes before, could

her dripping

down

up, a tear rolled

her cheek.

and deliberate.

Only feel

she,

defeat. She had lost the race.

1

17

as

she

the pains of

Tur

A

HAIKU FOR

Eiderdown Enfolds

My

my

love

WINTER'S DAY

of

snow

heart to nestle

warm

inside.

Cfiarlotte

Note.

Haiku

of five, seven,

is

a

and

Japanese verse form

Hooker

in

tfiree

five syllables respectively.

lines

WHO'S AFRAID OF THE

According

kingdom

come

most legends,

to

to help the old boy.

to the surface!!!

Once upon

Queenie, visited Sweden. in

love with her. That

to

Denmark.

When

Beowulf went to

However, the

is

a time,

that

madly

why Wulf and The Pack Journeyed

Wulf discovered that Queenie was romanced by a handsome young creature named Grendel who had an equally as pleasing mother named Grendel's Mother. Wulf was extremely jealous of Grendel so he bewitched the honey-suckled (actually she was full of mead) Queenie. This made Queenie reject her amorous young currently

they

arrived,

being

said,

became very moon

Every night when the

v/ould

have

an arm and ran off into the woods to die.

Wulf,

who had never been arm and placed

stuffed the

could see

try to

distressed over this rejec-

in

his

it

a success as a big

game

hunter,

on the mantle so that everyone

marvelous achievement. Queenie was especially

rose

Grendel developed severe emo-

Whenever Queenie refused his affection, Grendel would eat a member in the great mead hall.

Meanwhile, Beowulf became extremely upset by Grendel's manners and decided

that

it

was time

(who was

arm was tacked above the fireplace, she decided she would teach Wulf and The Pack a few lessons in decency. Ma Grendel lured Wulf to a pool

problems.

coarse dinner

Grendel's Mother learned that her son

illegitimate)

"No!" this,

the male population.

When

above the tree tops win back Queenie's love and each time she

After a few years of tional

it,

luck

proud of him because now there would be no more decrease

Lovesick Grendel

he went to

lost his

As

lost

Grendel.

tion.

outraged young man

head and started to fight Wulf.

Wulf had the advantage. When a child, Wulf had been a full-blooded, heavy-bearded male who found it necessary to begin shaving at the age of five and had enrolled in the Hai Karate self-defense course.

After Wulf applied those infallible techniques, poor Grendel

Hrothgar's wife, fell

to adopt proper table etiquette. When he suggested Grendel read Emily Post and stop slurping blood, the

Grendel

Hrothgar's

truth has finally

Beowulf saw her and

WULF?

BIG BAD

had been

killed

and

and they went together

took him to her underwater pad.

Beowulf and

Ma

that

for a

19

midnight swim.

She

After a long hot summer,

Grendel had a violent argument concerning

Grendel's corpse which had been lying

for

his

in

state for the past

two months.

Again Wulf applied the Hai Karate method,

and he succeeded

killing

In

However, before she died.

latest

his

Ma

had been her first lover and were half-brothers.

father

lover,

Grendel

Ma

Grendel.

Wulf that his Grendel and he

told

that

(Beowulf)

When Wulf

returned to the great

hall,

he discovered that

hlrothgar had run off with the tavern maid and that Queenle

had a new

lover, Wiglaf. Fearing that Wulf would cause more Queenle and Wiglaf decided to dispose of Wulf. So Queenle persuaded Wulf to go kill a dragon for her.

Wiglaf and a helper, Unferth, put on a dragon costume and went out to fight Wulf. Alas! Alas! This time the Hal Karate method did not work. Before Wulf could get close

trouble,

enough, Wulf. the

Wiglaf pulled

out

a

flame

throv/er

and

roasted

order to dispose of the witness, Wiglaf then threw flame at the posterior of the dragon. Unfortunately In

Queenle had been alone

In

the

Conclusion:

In

v/orld.

the dragon's

Despondent,

tail.

he

So now Wiglaf was took

a

powder.

Beowulf was not a Great Dane.

Sharon Bourne and Joan Harrup

20

all

—

— VISIONS INSPIRED BY THE

RICHMOND SYMPHONY

—

A

shadow falls What comes? Friend?

Enemy? Descending on me. swirling round I

sink

upon the sand

A velvet My Swell, music, surge with the

waves on the beach.

I

Snatching at sandpipers that hunt along the water's edge

And

skuttle

in

the mountains, rolling from peak

To peak. Spurts

of

wind and

flutter for shelter, tossing

My

until

in

we

to find

slip to

earth

spiral

neck. ... a

rise with in

.

creamy mane;

the love of flight.

and kneel beside I

snort.

the wind,

downward

It is done, my life, but have And would live no more.

Like scraps of paper, bits of leaves.

warm

me.

the strands of his

heart as one with his

At length we

them

come

wrap my hands

rain catch birds I

Who

steed has

We gallop

out of reach, afraid to wet their feet.

Thunder mutters

in fear.

nudge against my

to

my

his

lived

grave;

magnificence. it

to the fullest.

The breakers leap toward hieaven; the thunder peaks

As God in his black tux waves a frenzied arm.

At once there is silence. The clouds have broken Into a

thousand vapors to tinge with purple

The crimson-yellow glory of the Beside the lapping water's

sunset.

edge

I

sigh

For the end of such a day.

Swish!

I

am

aloft,

Jenny Young

soaring above the mountains

Astride the winged stallion Pegasus,

Up

to heaven, never to return to

Sorrow! The very word hurls

me

sorrow to the

beach again

To walk alone among the seaweed.

21

GOD'S CHILD To him

given eternal springs

is

Strewn with butterflies and

He knows

not

chill

that

stars;

autumn

brings,

Nor battlegrounds, nor iron bars, Nor oppression's vine that wraps and

And

strangles

Graced This

boy

its

with love from will

That echoes

clings

victims as tyranny rings.

ail

around,

never learn the

strife

each moment's sound, The voice of what is not his life; in

For he the Fates chose to be crowned

With innocence and by

trust

be bound.

boy with thoughts so mild grow to be a man never know of others wild

Yes, this small

Will never hfe'll

From hunger by another's plan.

On this boy God Himself has smiled; I

envy

this

retarded child.

Cookie Howell

22

JOHNNY HELPS WITH THE FUNERAL, OR BURYING UNCLE GEORGE

By the time receiver I

I

got to the kitchen.

down on

Mom

was

She looked a

the phone.

asked her what was going on.

It

seemed

just

little

I'd

had

that the call

been from Uncle George's lawyer. (Uncle George brother from San Francisco.

putting the

shocked, so

never met him.

years now, we'd only been reminded of him by

Mother's

Is

For

some annual

his

printed Christmas greeting.) The lawyer had called to say that

Uncle George had been taken away by a heart attack the night before,

burled.

and

Mom,

Maple Grove, was The

I

ing.

think It

was the phone that woke

it

me

must've been about 8:30 'cause

yelling to

Dad from

bridge mix

the

end

why

and ringing

'til

the

morn-

could hear

Mom

I

of the walk to bring

for the party, as his

curb. That's

that Saturday

she got back

In

just

It

On

the house.

usually sleep through the early kiddie cartoons

the

really

good

on before awake, so

I

I

stuff,

like

pulled on

my

now

I

was pretty

Grandma

for

she did

remaining

charge

was

call

of

all

relative

here

in

"arrangements."

Martin

Mrs.

—

to

explain

Cravet & Son's Funeral

I

Home

dressed so they'd know she'd be

'til

it

Mom

took twice as long

'cause she's getting pretty old and sometimes

has a hard time understanding. Then

mom

told

her to

1

well

noticed

down about

10:00.

it

1

pants and went on downstairs.

the

23

call

while she went upstairs to get

was taking Grandma a pretty long time the number; and when went to help her she said

All-Amerlcan Astro-Artie, comes

get out of bed; but by

in

went through the whole thing with her

kept ringing

and wait

be

last

the kitchen, (my father's mother, not Uncle George's).

home some

Saturdays

thing

to

his

why she wouldn't be able to have her and Mr. Martin over for bridge as planned. About that time Grandma came into

carpool ride hurried from the

phone woke me.

first

were shipping him home to be

that they

being

"dangdest" thing she'd ever seen

— there

to find it

was

"weren't no"

undertakers

So

either.

listed I

the yellow pages.

in

ran the

book

I

when he

any

couldn't find

Mom, and

upstairs to

she promptly

located Cravet & Son's under "Funeral Directors."

Since

want to

to

meet

go along.

When we city block,

and a good deal

roomy parking corner

—

it

lot.

looked

was relieved

like

All

like

of the lay-out

Cravet's

cars

the used car

of her usual

lot

is

I

one

grief she could not

spe-

was for

traditionally Its

his

similarly to

He

desk.

smiled a

comfortable, and then expressed

Mom. He

assured her that

rose to

Management his

"sin-

her time of

in

have come to a better place; that Cravet's known among the citizens of Maple Grove

high-caliber professional service and sincerity; and that

Mr. Brown, that was Uncle George, would receive their complete attention

and most competent services

In

a

funeral of

dignity and refinement.

Once

inside,

the

first

thing that struck

fountain just gurgling away. of waiting

around, and

we

It

was

In

me was

this

room. There was piped-in organ music didn't

have

to wait long

Grandma asked about

giant

Cravet offered

the center of a fancy

before a

his

all

man dressed

an

to

show

really

Mom done

mentioned as

much

should've over these

Artie

picking

to

to his

25

a

casket,

and

Mr.

As we passed from coffin to Grandma that since she hadn't Uncle George as she probably

for last

fifteen years,

do the very best by him now. make up for her neglect. After

I

out

us the variety of coffins available in

basement display room.

coffin,

usher and lookmg a little like All-American Astroapproached us. He was wearing a dark suit and a carnation. With the music and all, kinda half-way expected to see my Sunday school teacher next. The man shared several words with Mom in a private tone, like the preacher uses like

all

In

book.

kind

us

upstairs

As he

out was his son.

bulging magazine rack behind

who

to

the picture of

now found

I

noticed him slide a copy of Mortuary

made

little,

As we walked to the Grandma how much Cravet's Mount Vernon in my History 8

mentioned

I

who

cere sympathy" to

were parked

their lives, all

office.

a

consumed by

of a dealer

us

Into a

Cravet's covers half a

sedans and limousines.

cializes in black

main entrance looked

Mom

got downtown.

of hunting a parking space.

go

to

Mr. Cravet was a plump old man dressed very the usher,

I

problem

and rededicate then ushered us

people

Mr. Cravet's

to

Dad would be at work all day and Mom really didn't do all this by herself, Grandma and were delegated

forth

Grandma and me, and

tells

smiled at

This that,

she really wanted to

was the

last

chance

to

Mr. Cravet led us over

deluxe model, solid copper, quality coffin, the Colonial

He

Beauty.

Classic

talked

briefly

about

As we were

seamless top,

its

create

a

figured

a

"memory memory

picture"

of

sounded

picture

only picture we'd had of Uncle

mas card some

Mom

building.

five years

back of him

Mr. Cravet put

Mom

at the train station.

in

to

all.

since

too,

I

the

a photo-Christ-

it,

was

just

pine,

to

If

before

space

for

1

We

got

In

the car

we

lared entrance,

we were much like

there would

would arrive

mentioned

ing.

He

Mr. Cravet told her that Uncle for

remaining

details,

that

she

to the order of the final

something

could confidently entrust

from the arrangement of the procession, to him.

about a shroud,

consult

their

personal

all

of

and Mr. Cravet said grave-wear couturier

he

for

the

It

all

spread

was

Apostles.

sections

for

across

who was dressed

age ranging some-

prepared

that Mr.

with

plots

peaceful slumbering

for us, with a port-

desk,

his

and

Mom

Cravet seemed

He

26

he

said to think

to

available.

Mom

In

the

Garden

finally inter-

of

the

Mr. Burrie explained that the cost of the vault

would be figured

creation of an "original fashion" for Mr. Brown.

pil-

After looking through Kodacolor reproductions

various

ment place

said

that

nice

town

of

decided on what Mr. Burrie assured her would be an

floral tributes

Grandma

the

Burrie,

Mr. Cravet had called ahead.

that

of everything.

the

by Mr.

He was

edge

the

to

Passing through a

pointer to the office. There

followed a

photos

colored

of

Grandma how

viewing by tomorrow morn-

then gave her a choice of the unoccupied reposing

rooms and said

would

folio

located.

Is

the two Cravets and was of an

where between them.

George would be prepared

and drove out

cordially greeted

be a hearse there to meet him, and Mr. Cravet promised that a coach would be waiting. When Mom said that the train that afternoon,

a

full

1

Mom

where Memorial Gardens

George.

but Mr. Cravet

know

recommend had been

family site

everness Lawn Memorial Gardens, Inc.

the time of her loved one's arrival

Grandma wanted

since

the thing

to Uncle

asked Cravet to

was born, and our own little plot only had and Dad and, guess, me. Grandma had her place over In Hummelstown where she was born, so we needed a nice place for Uncle George. Mr. Cravet gave Mom the card of a Mr. Burrie, memorial counselor at For-

front of his office

that this

Grandma mumbled something about was already asking

nice,

George was

seemed convinced

for her "final tribute," as

comfort

lasting

Mom

leaving,

reputable cemetery. The original

welded body construction, innerspring "Perfect Posture" bed, and the sixty color choices available for its satin-acetate lining.

He assured her that in this coffin Mr. Brown would

then put us

In

into the plot cost as a slight additional fee. his

car to go out and see the chosen loca-

tion.

We

took a of

Mom

was a

little

a

As Mr.

businessman. Uncle Burrie

exhorted

Mom

Grandma asked section chosen

that

Mom

in

of

of

perpetual

the

care.

like

in

the

we

knowledge

lovely

returned

home

that

accordance with the name

select

a

monument

for

of

She

paper.

said

and

I

could

that she

tell

at

by the look

ease with the

had done the very best by Uncle George,

the

back to the Catherine Leary

was unable

to

remember

if

Uncle George

had a favorite apostle. There was even some doubt whether he had attended church these past fifteen years, but with the help of Mr. Burrie she

managed

to pick a

"handsome

the form of Saint Paul.

27

it

comfort to know that such dependable people were

Uncle George

hie took us

to

Mr. Cravet must've gotten

afternoon

Mom's

had

in

Grandma

taking care of the whole matter,

where he produced a catalogue filled with pictures of monuments. After passing by the Venuses, crosses, cherubs, and angels, we came to the section containing the

memorial marker"

real

to

notice

to,

already waiting on our porch,

about a tombstone, and then Mr.

the form of his favorite apostle,

Mom

remarked

now attended

tributes"

"floral

on her face that her conscience was resting

it.

office

apostles.

the details

obituary

was a

figured that, having

shaded quality

the

and the advantages doubts seemed to be overcome.

Burrie suggested

I

George would probably

landscape

Mom the

of

disturbed that the plot was

such clear view of the office; but

been

Garden

all

several

find

an area close to our

point which Mr. Burrie identified as the

the Apostles.

in

to

With

Pines,

through the Orchard

at Everlasting Love, traveled

Peace and then wound around

starting

in

Babyland and Whispering

passed through

left

A

creation so tenderly

Enjoying

Its

silent,

own mysterious dream.

yawn-smile was so confident

The

lazy

We

Realists grin; then

remember and scream.

That peaceful slumber has been

lost in

time

To a red and brown puddle of senseless mud.

Wise wasteful world you have planted a crime: hlis Is

Being has fallen

— one

single thud.

there an answer to torturous life?

Where

When But

we

A

is

all all

the Reason for smiling so long

do

fetus

We

Happiness ends

of a

insist that

dreaming

hope

will

in strife?

hate's not wrong.

In

the widow's

be proud

womb

at his father's

tomb.

Donna Barnes

—

— — —

—— ——— WITH DUE RESPECT

Where do go Where do go

from here,

I

I've

my

dreamed

and gotten I've

I've said Hello,

to the I

have

dream

queers

in

am

a capitalist.

I

like

possessions.

I

have a

cat.

I

have a

social conscience.

I

have a glass menagerie.

I

a parking ticket Bali

Ha!

Harlem ghetto-

Young Lovers

And am

Central Park

tried to expatriate

I

a family.

a

time past

Where do

And

I

would

Make

go from here?

like to

If

sing songs

I

— map —

I

am

a

Into

Night

I

29

into a million pieces,

us!

Where do go

Diahn Simonini

all,

turbulence,

weather the Long Days

Lord bless

coward.

stars

an eggcrate.

among my

Without cracking

itinerary

dangling on some fence post.

But

will

—

with any luck at

sit still

Journey

disappear Leaving schedule

I

of the vast mist of

hurled into

Where,

cut out

free

—out —sprung from

man

and missed Coca-Colas.

I

disappear

postcards

and souvenirs!

the impossible

looked for

me

can see

With my matched Samsonite

feet

the back streets of the

in

I

trailing

climbed every mountain

and blistered I've

man?

from here?

I

from here?

PATRONS Baldwin's, Farmville. Virginia

Shop Cedar Brook Restaurant, Rice Road College Shoppe Carter's Flower

Collins Florist

Crute's Esther

May

Farnnvllle

Village

Shop

Herald

Farmville Manufacturing Co., Shopping Center

Grant's Shopping Center

Gray's Rexall Knit Korner

Leggett's

Longwood

Jeweler, Farmville, Virginia

Martin The Jeweler

Moore's Distributing Co.

Newman's Owen-Sanford, Shopping Center Sherwin-Williams Co. Smitty Electric Co.

Stackpole Components

Company,

State Theater

30

P.

O. Box

M