No More Learning

I wish that everything on earth were just
As certain as the meals we've had. I wish
The meals we haven't had were, anyway.
What have you you know where to lay your hands on? "

"The bread we bought in passing at the store.
There's butter somewhere, too. "

"Let's rend the bread.
I'll light the fire for company for you;
You'll not have any other company
Till Ed begins to get out on a Sunday
To look us over and give us his idea
Of what wants pruning, shingling, breaking up.
He'll know what he would do if he were we,
And all at once. He'll plan for us and plan
To help us, but he'll take it out in planning.
Well, you can set the table with the loaf.
Let's see you find your loaf. I'll light the fire.
I like chairs occupying other chairs
Not offering a lady--"

"There again, Joe!
_You're tired. _"

"I'm drunk-nonsensical tired out;
Don't mind a word I say.
It's a day's work
To empty one house of all household goods
And fill another with 'em fifteen miles away,
Although you do no more than dump them down. "

"Dumped down in paradise we are and happy. "

"It's all so much what I have always wanted,
I can't believe it's what you wanted, too. "

"Shouldn't you like to know? "

"I'd like to know
If it is what you wanted, then how much
You wanted it for me. "

"A troubled conscience!
You don't want me to tell if _I_ don't know. "

"I don't want to find out what can't be known.

But who first said the word to come? "

"My dear,
It's who first thought the thought. You're searching, Joe,
For things that don't exist; I mean beginnings.
Ends and beginnings--there are no such things.
There are only middles. "

"What is this? "
"This life?
Our sitting here by lantern-light together
Amid the wreckage of a former home?