The Street Window
Whoever leads a solitary life and yet now and then wants to attach himself
somewhere, whoever, according to changes in the time of day, the weather,
the state of his business, and the like, suddenly wishes to see any arm at
all to which he might cling--he will not be able to manage for long without
a window looking on to the street. And if he is in the mood of not desiring
anything and only goes to his window sill a tired man, with eyes turning
from his public to heaven and back again, not wanting to look out and
having thrown his head up a little, even then the horses below will draw him
down into their train of wagons and tumult, and so at last into the human
harmony.
Translated by Willa and Edwin Muir
index