Hysteria

Eliot, Thomas Stearns (1888 - 1965)

Original Text

T. S. Eliot, Prufrock and Other Observations (London: The Egoist, 1917): 37. E546 P784 1917 Fisher Rare Book Library. Donald Gallup, T. S. Eliot: A Bibliography (London: Faber and Faber, 1969): A1, C28.

1As she laughed I was aware of becoming involved

2in her laughter and being part of it, until her

3teeth were only accidental stars with a talent

4for squad-drill. I was drawn in by short gasps,

5inhaled at each momentary recovery, lost finally

6in the dark caverns of her throat, bruised by

7the ripple of unseen muscles. An elderly waiter

8with trembling hands was hurriedly spreading

9a pink and white checked cloth over the rusty

10green iron table, saying: "If the lady and

11gentleman wish to take their tea in the garden,

12if the lady and gentleman wish to take their

13tea in the garden ..." I decided that if the

14shaking of her breasts could be stopped, some of

15the fragments of the afternoon might be collected,

16and I concentrated my attention with careful

17subtlety to this end.

Notes

1] This lineation represents the original, justified text. Back to Line

Publication Start Year

1915

Publication Notes

Published in Catholic Anthology 1914-1915 (Nov. 1915)

RPO poem Editors

Ian Lancashire

RPO Edition

RPO 1998.

Form

prose poem