522
PARTISAN REVIEW
ends even if by somewhat devious means: our condition here is rot–
ten, strange and painful.
And it is still hot and humid in my room and total darkness
holds the whole land. Have you ever heard of an old, modest poet
named Mataniah Starkman? He was the poet who made the mistake
about the bride and groom. And I have just read in the paper which
is by my bed that in the early hours of yesterday morning, in Ra'an–
anah, at the age of 77, of a heart attack, the poet has died. Surely we
are obliged occasionally to do a simple sum. Meanwhile it's three
o'clock in the morning.
Good night to all of us.
