9 April
9 April
9 April 1920
Schiffs are coming to tea. Cold and windy. Out of the window the writhing palms - the dust - the woman with a black veil. Mrs D. knowing nothing of England "I'm an Imperialist." Jinnie in bed "I like to be fair." Connie lies on the couch and reads. I feel I must live alone alone alone - with artists only to come to the door. Every artist cuts off his ear & nails it on the outside of the door for the others to shout into. [KM Notebooks]
My very very own,
Do not overpraise me. When I read what you had written about the drawings I flew two pink flags. But if you like them a little I'll do you some more - better - and put them in a frame for you when they're good enough. I entirely agree with your suggestions re je ne p.p. Please invest yourself with Full Powers, darling and forgive me for giving you so much trouble. This month will end it. This letter (Tuesday) is the most astonishingly sweet letter. Its one of those letters which make me feel quite faint for joy. I feel I must see you -must hold you, be held, must say "you know . . . Bogey . . . my darling" - "My darling" - thats what you are - Darling - darling - and my heart is full of love. I feel deeply your obligation to make the A. a success. It must be done. You can do it - its your duty towards your neighbour. Yes, you're a poet, but you are too true a poet not to be a poet of your time. When I heard old Schiff the other day praising the paper (praising it so rightly) and saying what you were doing for English literature I felt you could not let all these people down - you must carry the torch. They do look to you. Mrs S said "he was pointed out to us at Tom Eliot's lecture. Everybody was talking about him." You know, even from the superficial point of view Squire isnt taken seriously: he's looked upon as a newsmonger - and you (I don't exaggerate) people feel you've got the fate of English literature in your hands, I believe. When Schiff said the other day: "I feel confident that in a few years it will make or mar a man - the criticism passed on him by the Athenaeum." Its pretty terrific - or rather -you are. [To J. M. Murry in Collected Letters]