21.9.23

From the Coda to "The Changing Light at Sandover" (the part called "Mr E") by James Merrill

AT LAST, MY MOTHER SUMMONING ME, ‘MICHAEL (SHE SAID)
S H O W  Y O U R S E L F.’  I UNDID THE SLAVE LIKE A ROBE.
I APPEARED FREE ONCE MORE TO BE SOLEMN AND ENLIGHTENING. I TOOK UP THE LIGHT OF LEARNING,
RESUMING THE SELF I RETURN TO AFTER EACH MANIFESTATION ON THE HUMAN SCENE.
WE BROTHERS HAVE THIS POWER, THIS DUTY, EVEN AS SPOILERS & MADMEN TO DESCEND,
TO FOUND RELIGIONS, TO MISRULE, TO TICKLE
INTO GENIUS MAN’S GENIUS
MAKING THE LONG & SHORT OF IT     Human dimensions?
SCRIBE, THE SUBSTANCE AND THE SENSE OF IT.
WE ARE IN THIS OUR MOTHER’S CHILDREN, THE RESISTERS, AND INDEED IT IS AGAINST HER ADVICE ‘DO NOT LET DOWN THE MASK’
THAT I LET IT DOWN TODAY. AND WHY?

FOR LOVE: SHOULD NOT THESE MY OLD COMPANIONS HAVE ONE RIDE HOME IN THE LIMOUSINE?