St Timothys School - Steward Yearbook (Stevenson, MD)

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THE STEVVARD THE FIRST ACT Before a red prairie dawn, someone said, Another day, And the careful-wise magicians Checked their formulas and nodded, And the battling world-bargainers agreed- To soothe the people, So their ears, half-sleeping. Half-appeased, slept on. A country cock Awake-soniewhere- Was crowing. There was nothing before noon but the noise Of switched-on lives, And the cat's-claw clicking purr Of the stock market's power, Then the bells and the lunch pails And the diplomatic chatter. So their words, half-roaring, Half-assured, roared on. The mid-sky sun Silent-above- Was shining. The skill of one-piece factories turned on Home-time and the night, And the standard-tuned antennas Filtered moonbeams through their net, VVhile free but gambling lonely men Watched dancers pale the evening. So their eyes, half-playing, Half-puzzled, played on. A space-Hung star Unbouncl-far-off- Was sparkling. We are half-given people and given For taking's sake, And for easy-smiling skits Of the word-help love we promise. And the pretty white-Wrapped half-true gift Is heartless, black and hollow. So our lives, half-living, Half-lying, live on. The strawborn Child Alone-somewhere- ls Crying. LIBBIE F. GERRY, '59 Forty

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'II' H E S 'I' E VVA R D SHADES OF SALEM I saw him only once I think, And yet how many times it seems We passed along the beach at dusk, And each was busy with his dreams. I I Q.. The moon hangs heavy and yellow ln a purple midnight sky. His mind is in a turmoil. VVill his memory bear the strain Of a shadow swinging slowly, Slowly over a moonlit wall? The moon sends pale lingers Across the darkened sill. He strode with sure, determined steps, His long black cape unfurled behind. His hair was long and strangely dressedg His eyes were hardg his face, unkind. At Hrst I thought We'd met before, But he took little note of me. He paced the sand and gazed beyond Conferring with his deity. He was not tall, my restless friend, Yet there was power in his walk. As darkness fell. he seemed more strange- His ruflles and his face like chalk. As I stood frozen, hc approached. He gazed at me, and guessed my fears. His eyes were sharp: they pierced the night And then I crossed the bridge of years. VVhy did his restless spirit stalk? VV hy did he stand beside the sea? XV hy did I meet him in my walk? XVhy did he turn his gaze on me? DIANA L. XVAr.Kr:R SHADOW A shadow falls, and slowly it swings, Slowly over a moonlit wall. Ile thought they would always be friends, Until the fateful eve. They fought a bitter battleg Then suddenly it was done, And he saw the shadow swinging, A rope about his throat. Ile never returned to see it, But his mind has often strayed To the silken ray of moonlight And the phantom that it drew' A shadow forever swinging Over a moonlit wall. 'I'l1irty-nine LA1N12 DICKl'ZRLIAN, '62

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