THE BASKET MAKER 



rains are forward or delayed. But when- 

 ever Seyavi cut willows for baskets was al- 

 ways a golden time, and the soul of the 

 weather went into the wood. If you had 

 ever owned one of Seyavi's golden russet 

 cooking bowls with the pattern of plumed 

 quail, you would understand all this with- 

 out saying anything. 



Before Seyavi made baskets for the sat- 

 isfaction of desire, — for that is a house-bred 

 theory of art that makes anything more of 



it, — she danced and dressed her hair. In 

 those days, when the spring was at flood 

 and the blood pricked to the mating fever, 

 the maids chose their flowers, wreathed 

 themselves, and danced in the twilights, 

 young desire crying out to young desire. 

 They sang what the heart prompted, what 

 the flower expressed, what boded in the 

 mating weather. 



171 



