Briefing for a Descent into Hell Part 4

Of tides pouring in a sh.e.l.l, or blood

Along the inner caverns of the flesh,

Yet clinging like sinking man to sight of sun, Clinging to distant sun or voices calling?

NURSE: A little more, please.

PATIENT: I'm not hungry. I've learned to breathe water. It's full of plankton you know. You can feed your lungs as you feed your stomach.

NURSE: Is that so dear? Well, don't go too far with it, you'll have to breathe air again.

PATIENT: I'm breathing air now. I'm on the rock you see.

See him then as the bird might see

Who rocks like pinioned ship on warm rough air,

Coming from winds.p.a.ced fields to ocean swells

That rearing fling gigantic ma.s.s on ma.s.s

Patient and slow against the stubborn land,

Striving to achieve what strange reversal

Of that monstrous birth when through long ages

Labouring, appeared a weed-stained limb,

A head, at last the body of the land,

Fretted and worn for ever by a mothering sea

A jealous sea that loves her ancient pain.

NURSE: Why don't you go and sit for a bit in the day room? Aren't you tired of being in bed all the time?

PATIENT: A jealousy that loves. Her pain.

NURSE: Have you got a pain? Where?

PATIENT: Not me. You. Jealously loving and nursing pain.

NURSE: I haven't got a pain I a.s.sure you.

PATIENT: He floats on lazy wings down miles of foam,

And there, below, the small spreadeagled shape

Clinging to black rock like drowning man,

Who feels the great bird overhead and knows

That he may keep no voices, wings or winds

Who follows hypnotised down gla.s.sy gulfs,

His roaring ears extinguished by the flood.

NURSE: Take these pills dear, that's it.

PATIENT: Who has not sunk as drowned man sinks,

Through sunshot layers where still the under-curve

Of lolling wave holds light like light in gla.s.s,

Where still a jewelled fish slides by like bird,

And then the middle depths where all is dim

Diffusing light like depths of forest floor.

He falls, he falls, past apprehensive arms

And spiny jaws and treacherous pools of death,

Till finally he rests on ocean bed.