Page:Spring and all - William Carlos Williams.djvu/22

 The voice of the Delphic Oracle itself, what was it ? A poisonous gas from a rock's cleft.

Those who led yesterday wish to hold their sway a while longer. It is not difficult to understand their mood. They have their great weapons to hand : „ science ", „ philosophy " and most dangerous of all „ art

Meanwhile, SPRING, which has been approaching for several pages, is at last here.

— they ask us to return to the proven truths of tradition, even to the twice proven, the substan- tiality of which is known. Denmth and a few others do their best to point out the error, telling us that design is a function of the IMAGINATION, describ- ing its movements, its colors — but it is a hard battle. I myself seek to enter the lists with these few notes jotted down in the midst of the action, under distract- ing circumstances — to remind mvsclf (see p. 2, paragraph 1) of the truth. The farmer in deep thought is pacing through the rain among his blank fields, with hands in pockets,