The Arms of the Infinite: Elizabeth Smart and George Barker

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The Arms of the Infinite This page intentionally left blank christopher barker The Arms of the Infinite George Barker and Elizabeth Smart We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund for our publishing activities. Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Barker, Christopher, 1943– The arms of the infinite : Elizabeth Smart and George Baker / Christopher Barker. Includes index. Issued also in electronic format. ISBN 978-1-55458-270-9 1. Smart, Elizabeth, 1913–1986. 2. Barker, George, 1913–1991. 3. Barker, Christopher, 1943–. 4. Authors, Canadian (English)—20th century—Biography. 5. Poets, English— 20th century—Biography. I. Title. PS8537.M37Z57 2010 C813'.54 C2010-905591-8 ISBN 978-1-55458-307-2 Electronic format. 1. Smart, Elizabeth, 1913–1986. 2. Barker, George, 1913–1991. 3. Barker, Christopher, 1943–. 4. Authors, Canadian (English)—20th century—Biography. 5. Poets, English— 20th century—Biography. I. Title. PS8537.M37Z57 2010a C813'.54 C2010-905592-6 Cover design by TG Design. Cover photo of Elizabeth Smart, 1948, by Michael Wickham. Text design by Catharine Bonas-Taylor.© Christopher Barker First published by Pomona Books PO Box 50, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire HX7 8WA, England, UK Rights for this edition arranged by the Literary Agency erzaehl:perspektive, Munich/ Germany (www.erzaehlperspektive.de) and in consultation with David Higham Literary , Film & TV Agents This edition published 2010 by Wilfrid Laurier University Press Waterloo, Ontario, Canada www.wlupress.wlu.ca This book is printed on FSC recycled paper and is certified Ecologo. It is made from 100% post-consumer fibre, processed chlorine free, and manufactured using biogas energy. Printed in Canada Every reasonable effort has been made to acquire permission for copyright material used in this text, and to acknowledge all such indebtedness accurately. Any errors and omissions called to the publisher’s attention will be corrected in future printings. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the publisher or a licence from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For an Access Copyright licence, visit www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll free to 1-800-893-5777. for g.e.b. And also, your son does not step down out of his hammock to be anyone’s scapegoat, but to collect his own apple with his own sin, as his son, too, will do at the proper time. Elizabeth Smart By Grand Central Station I Sat Down and Wept  ...