Isabella Letters

Dear wild and wandering friend,

Here is an intensely legible statement of your needful 
proceeding at Dover on the arrival, at the nominal 2:30 
of your boat from Calais. It will consist simply of your 
looking out for me, as hard as possible – if not as
soft! – from the deck of the vessel.

I shall be on the dock to meet you, penetrating with eagle 
eye the densest crowd: so that, after all, your looks won’t 
so much matter.

I shall try to have mine of the best.

I shall await you, in other words – reach out the friendliest 
of hands to you as you step, de votre pied léger, from the plank.

The rest is silence.

You will have nothing whatever more to do but what I mildly but 
firmly bid you. If you only mind what I tell you, all 
will still be well.

We shall combine convenient promptitude with convenient 
deliberation  and reach Rye in time for tea and tartines.

Be therefore at peace – and keep your powder dry.

I wish you as smooth and swift and simple a business of it, 
all through, as may be possible to so complex an organism.

The weather here is lovely now and the Channel a summer sea – 
which I trust we shall still profit by.

Thursday, then, I repeat, on the Dover pier at 2:30.

Yours more than ever impatiently,
   Henry James

Tokyo
October 4
Dear Kotchan,
Ages have passed – are you changed any?
Swans sailing across the ocean have brought tidings of your whereabouts
and I am glad that fate has dealt kindly with you.
When you left I have felt the loss deeply –
the table was suddenly large without your prowling presence.
Even now I write with your picture before me.
You have killed all the cats in the world
for you are alone, --
the only one dear to me.
Have you caught your first mice yet?
Did he taste nice?
Perhaps you enjoy chasing squirrels,
there is great pleasure in the quest of the unattainable.
You and I know that wonder is the secret of bliss
and that with reason comes the death of the beautiful.
Be cautious of forming friendship with tomcats –
even of the best sort.
They can teach only what they acquired through pain;
you must learn all through the gate of gladness.
Be courageous, for bravery is the key into life.
Kotchan! are you lonesome?
Loneliness is the lot of many worthier than you or me –
With best greetings
Your friend
Kakuzo
I am sending you a small parcel of Japanese Catnip –
and hope that it may agree with you.

July 19, 1896
Dear Berenson,
When comes my Titian, my Rape of Europa? I am feverish about it. Do come over,
just to unpack her and set her up in her new shrine! Do!
August 25
She has come!! Europa has come! She has come! I was just cabling you to ask
what could be the matter, when she arrived, safe and sound. She is now in place.
I have no words! I am too excited to talk.
September 19
Dear Berenson,
I am breathless about the Europa, even yet! I am back here tonight after a two
days’ orgy. The orgy was drinking myself drunk with Europa, thinking and
dreaming about her. Mr. Shaw, Mr. Hooper, Dr. Bigelow, and many painters have
dropped before her. Many came with “grave doubts”; many came to scoff; but all
wallowed at her feet. One painter, a general skeptic, couldn’t speak for the tears!
all of joy!!!
Sincerely yours,
Isabella S. Gardner

The One
Alone and white.
Shadows but wander
In the lights that were;
Lights but linger
In the shadows to be.
The Moon
White and alone.
The stars have dissolved
To make a crystal night;
Fragrance floats
Unseen by flowers;
Echoes waft,
Half answered by darkness.
A shadow glides
On the stairway of jade –
It is a moonbeam?
Is it the One?
In the Abode of Solitary Shadow?