HYSTERIA
As she laughed I was aware of becoming involved in her laughter and being part of it, until her teeth were only accidental stars with a talent for a squad-drill. I was drawn in by the short gasps, inhaled in each momentary recovery, lost finally in the dark caverns of her throat, bruised by the ripple of unseen muscles. An elderly waiter with trembling hands was hurriedly spreading a pink and white checked table cloth, saying: ‘If the lady and gentleman wish to take their tea in the garden, if the lady and gentleman wish to take their tea in the garden…’
I decided that if the shaking of her breasts could be stopped, some of the fragments of the afternoon might be collected, and I concentrated my attention with careful subtlety to this end.
T.S. Eliot, from ”Prufrock and Other Observations”
And yes it’s my adorable little pocket publication of Eliot…which I have carried with me since before graduating high school.
FUNCTIONAL STUFF PEOPLE! FUNCTION!
January 06th, 2012 Tags: poetry TS ELIOT Hysteria culture step-and-repeat
