Durham High School - Messenger Yearbook (Durham, NC)

Page 32 text:

THE COURT-JESTER The court-jester on guard, Wearily watching For the Sign of the Times, Is condemned to wait. Restless, his stance. The Neons are calling. He travels easiest In the lanes of the night. He understands the Shadows And calls them Friends, The gutters are flooding. For it ' s always just rained. The ragged clown and Jesus, The court musician and Judas Are all on drugs And feeling very psychic. The segregated wind sees it And whispers that perhaps. But’ fhe jester will not listen. He is afraid of Secrets. Inert, he waits for his own Maybe. The eleventh hour, and all is well. Intercourse, the malevolent. Walks the streets. Disturb the peace! The night is crying for an end. The jester, too is ready to leave. He believes in the Ultimate. . . Tommy House

Page 34 text:

August Sixth I cannot leave this place. The most unhappiest. Of the heat and yet The willow tree To wear my loafers wet Because they are And yet I cannot kiss a thing goodby. Because I have not once been Happy here And yet have loved the place For its old patterned brick And aged pride. I know not why But the bamboo here has grown A little bit. I cannot leave this place— And yet Goodbye. —Katherine Bradley 30