Said an aesthete: "What distillation from magic herbs br can I find—what distillation, following the recipe br of ancient Greco-Syrian magicians— br that will bring back to me for one day (if its power br doesn't last longer) or even for a few hours, br my twenty-third year, br bring back to me my friend of twenty-two, br his beauty, his love. br br What distillation, following the recipe br of ancient Greco-Syrian magicians, can be found br to bring back also—as part of this return of things past— br even the little room we shared."br br Constantine P.