Rogers Hall School - Splinters Yearbook (Lowell, MA)

Page 10 text:

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Silent Night Rain fell as a mist from the darkened sky and a strong wind whipped the tiny drops against my cheeks. As I scuffed along the wet pavement I shoved my hands far- ther into my pockets away from the weather. Few street lights remained lit because of the riot which had occurred the night before. One lonely light shone by the corner and the illuminated mist fell like silver chiffon upon the sparkling cement. All remained motionless and silent but the wind which, like a broom, swept the litter from the street and sent it swirling down the sidewalks. I stood near the light and leaned against the crumbling brick wall staring pensively down the block. Couples sat huddled on steps and in doorways half asleep, for there was nowhere to go. Suddenly the silence was broken by heavy, syncopated steps slapping the drenched sidewalk. As the sound drew nearer, the couples began to disperse from the doorways and to shuffle down the street as if they had a planned destination. They made not a sound. I relieved the wall of my weight and walked quietly down the block. No one remained stationary. No one could tell from which direction the patrol came, so they kept moving aimlessly through the darkened streets. From around the right hand corner appeared a cold yellow light which dis- tinguished the larger raindrops now forming, but not the figures which stood behind it. At this my knees weakened and my heart pounded rapidly, however, I knew it was necessary to compose myself. I slunk forward staring at the pavement directly in front of me like a cowed dog and passed the entire patrol without giving them as much as a glance. I released the breath, I had been holding, in a long sigh. At this moment, the patrol stopped and shined the light on me. Blindly I continued to scuff down the walk and a cold sweat beaded my brow. Finally they withdrew the light and con- tinued on. It was early morning and now the rain fell in torrents. My clothes clung to my body, and shivering from the cold, I searched for an empty doorway. There were none to be found. Ptesuming my place by the street light, I tilted my head backward letting the rain wash my face. The dawn would soon come and the night would be no more. DONNA BRION '68 Alone Alone in my thoughts, Alone in my heart, Alone in my mind, I know that I ought To love you now And respect your kind. But tomorrow in a crowd, I shall not have time To stop and love, Alone in my heart. KRISTEN LAPE '70 7

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Conception of a Day The rain sifts through the winds silken mesh sweeping diagonally at a figure matted into a rock's crevice. Molten grey eyes gaze mindlessly along a rigid coast. The sea of another day washes in a story of untold heroes. Is it dawn or when? The entity has swirled into opaque silver blue haze. If a sun exists above this land it is unknown. The sea traces in faint thin lines under a sky which resembles a dead man's eye. Walls crumble, Grecian pillars tumble, land slides, all into a muddled mass. There, a dying, gasping soldier lies humped over,. like an old man, clutching his chest. Trying to maintain steady footing he extends his arm horizontally, at full length, against the blood-washed escarpment. He rests momentarily. His mind is paralyzedg his movements mechanical. Two last steps, right leg past left. His pulsing cellophane forehead lifts. His hair is sprayed back and he groans through a strange half smile into the leadened sky. The body sucks in a deep breath, hunches, slumps with a sigh and spills to the ground. The flat surface swells, thrusts high, curls and tumults down. The great wall of Weight thunders and smashes mercilessly down. Churning and crumbling, it rivets up the sandy ramp . . . A final greedy suck at the land before it is hauled back. And again it claws desperately at the edge. EL1zABErH BULLOCK '68 9