Sealed into the cocoon
Of light and water, face
And racked reflection, voice

Snow-white ray 
coal-black earth will 
swallow now. 

Of this aspiring burgher who disdained
(Dumb in his pride of mortified reserve)
The usufruct of half a continent.

Curtis, you’ve been American too long.
You don’t know what it feels like. You belong.
Don’t you, too entirely to explain?