After great pain, a formal feeling comes－1
The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs－
The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore,
And Yesterday, or Centuries before?
The Feet, mechanical, go round－5
Of Ground, or Air, or Ought－
A Wooden way
Regardless grown,
A Quartz contentment, like a stone－
This is the Hour of Lead－10
Remembered, if outlived,
As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow－
First－Chill－then Stupor－then the letting go－
The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs－
The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore,
And Yesterday, or Centuries before?
The Feet, mechanical, go round－5
Of Ground, or Air, or Ought－
A Wooden way
Regardless grown,
A Quartz contentment, like a stone－
This is the Hour of Lead－10
Remembered, if outlived,
As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow－
First－Chill－then Stupor－then the letting go－
(F.372/J.341)
[1] pain:: the pain of practising. formal:: a formal performance.
[2] Nerves, like Tombs:: extremely nervous before the formal performance.
[3] He, that bore:: the male dancer who bore his partner.
[4] Yesterday, or Centuries:: she wondered when was their last practice.
[5] Feet, go round:: a hint on ballet.
[6] Ground, or Air:: the feet on the ground or air. Ought:: nought, nothing, not known where were her feet.
[7] Wooden way:: direct response without thinking.
[8, 9] grown, Quartz, stone:: the practising grows the dancer's skill like quartz to a precious stone.
[10] Lead:: leading role in a performance.
[11] outlived:: performed without failure.
[13] letting go:: to dance freely.