by Deane H. Shapiro, Jr
This was written in 1970, in Asia, while reading Hardy’s Jude the Obscure. It is a conversation snippet. On a ship. Heading where? From where? There are “characters” Daled ( who later became the elder person of the Last Harbor); one called Ellis, and a poet.
Johanna comments:
A very honest examination and well-written. They develop your ideas more comprehensively about why write and who is the audience. The place of the artist in society (or whether there is a place for the artist). Good elaboration on the poet’s hope for making the world a better place through his writing. I like the title too, like the conceit of the ship and the different “levels” this offers. It’s a very honest, searching dialogue, each character trying to catch the others out, to force them to see their mixed motivations. Definitely something to put up. Love, J