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New Orleans Fantasy
- TCU Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
-09New Orleans Fantasy He came by about six and rang the bell. I went to the door and helped him in. Old but not bent, wrinkled but not withered. I placed the ashtray on his left, the wine on his right And told him this. A candle burned brightly behind his grey-streaked head And his cigar glowed as a cat’s eye As we each sat in silence, Waiting for the other to begin. “We will pass away the night?” “As you wish,” I replied. I did not know why he came but was elated to see him once more. The candle flickered as the unseen wind moved through my room. “We will talk of my life and I will go as I came.” He spoke on through the night And I listened, never moving Or taking my weary eyes from his face, In the circle of candlelight. He talked of childhood; Life as a young man; His wife and children, All passed before him. He told me of his loneliness As an old man grew even older. The house, the voices, footsteps, Laughter, tears, and God. A shorter candle still shone bright. -10The old man’s voice was strong, Still sounding As the first traces of the oncoming day Showed themselves Through the half-shuttered window glass. “I see the sun is rising,” he said. “How can a blind man see?” I thought. The candle was cold. Copyright © 1965 Steven Fromholz ...