Ritual X.: The Evening Pair of Ales

EAST OF EDEN is mountains & desert until you cross the passes into India  . It is 3 o’clock in the afternoon or twenty of 8 at night, depending which clock you believe  . AND WEST IS WEST It’s where the cups and saucers are, the plates, the knives and forks  . The turkey sandwich comes alone or with onions if you like The old newspaperman always takes his hat off & lays it atop the cigarette machine; the younger, so-hip journalist, leaves his on old-style . The old man sits down in the corner, puts his hat back on. No challenge, but it’s visible, the beau geste  . The cigarette hangs from the side of the younger man’s mouth, he’s putting himself on  . East of Eden is mountains & desert & every thing creeps up on you & comes in the night, unexpectedly  . when one would least put out his hand to offer, or to defend  .