Free Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby Jr. Page B

knew that everyone saw a Raven in the shadows
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore –
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; –
‘’Tis the wind and nothing more!’ …
    and she was no longer merely reading a poem, but she was the poem and every word was coming from her soul and all the wonderful shadows whirled around her
Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
‘Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou,’ I said, ‘art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient Raven wandering from the Nightly shore …
    The guys were staring and Vinnie seemed so close she could feel the sweat on his face and even Lee was listening and watching her readand they all knew she was there; they all knew she was THE QUEEN.
Nothing farther then he uttered – not a feather then he fluttered –
Till I scarcely more than muttered, ‘Other friends have flown before –
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before.’
Then the bird said ‘Nevermore.’ …
    Vinnie was staring at Georgette and the shadows that highlighted her eyes, then her cheeks, then her eyes … thinking it was a shame she was gay. Hes a good lookin guy and real great, especially for a queen … being honestly moved by Georgettes reading, but even with the bennie stimulating his imagination it was impossible for him to get beyond the weirdness and the kick
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore –
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt, and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking ‘Nevermore.’
This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom’s core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion’s velvet lining that the lamp-light gloated o’er, …
She , shall press, ah, nevermore! …
    and the Bird was blowing (can you hear him Vinnie? Listen Listen Its the Bird. Can you hear him? Hes blowing love. Blowing love for us) and the incongruent rhythms of the Birds whirled and rang … then reconciled and O God it is beautiful
‘… Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!’
    Quoth the Raven ‘Nevermore.’
‘Prophet!’ said I, ‘thing of evil! prophet still, if bird or devil –
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted … ’
    and through a rip in the black shade she saw dancing points of greyand soon light would streak the sky and the shadows would soften and dance and the soft early morning light would seep through the room pushing the shadows from the now darkened corners and the candles soon would be out
And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted – nevermore!
    and the Bird was blowing a final chorus, high, and the set wouldnt end, but the Bird would slowly fade and you would never know when he really stopped and the sounds would hang and roll in your ear and all would be love – Quoth the Bird Evermore – and the flames bowed and licked the edge of the candles and even Harry didnt fight his lethargy and try to break the spell and Georgette lowered the book to her lap with full dramatic presence and the final words still whirled with the light and stayed in the ear as the sea in a shell and Georgette sat on a wondrous throne in a wondrous land where people loved and kissed and sat silent together, holding hands and walking through magic nights and Goldie got up and kissed the Queen and told her it was beautiful, simply beautiful and the guys mumbled and smiled and Vinnie struggled with the