Henri to Yvette.

Varsovie 30 June [written before he has received any of her passionate letters above ]

My dearest darling,

I was without [obliterated by censor’s stamp] as astonished to learn  [ditto] that you are in Vienna as you were to learn that I am in Warsaw. Decidedly for the two of us at least the world is a small place. And you are such a wonderfully curious little person and such a traveller. Now it is Vienna that you like.

But tell me little one, what were you seeking in Vienna? And your work with children, is it finished? Are you simply a tourist? There you have a heap of questions that you will surely reply to.

The telegram you sent me quite frankly put me into a flurry. You cant believe how much a word from you – a word through which shines a tiny feeling for me – can throw me into confusion. Little lover that I am am I not complaining? Oh it’s not me who does it but I have the honours of thinking that it can well be on the part, well, of the stars for example. And then, say, do you know me? Then you would know that after that telegram I began to think, to dream, to listen to the music of the wind and of the heart and to all that, you know-

How would all that go with those three kisses?

I have so long reflected and more than that -I felt- that would happen too. The first – on one eye (3 seconds), the second – on the other (5 seconds). Then a pause. And then, the third, on the mouth, in the mouth. And that would last at least 3 minutes. I prefer it like that. And since it is all only imagination, to what good things you lead me darling!

So thank you Yvette.

My news. The nature of my work does not permit me to talk of it in length.  I like the government but I still don’t like the people. The difference between the two is enormous.  It’s a matter of raising the people to the height of its government. It is our deepest wish.

The country is ruined. The ruins to be seen in Warsaw (and above all, the ghetto!) surpass everything that I have seen before. It is necessary to reconstruct all that and to reconstruct it better than before, because for the nation.

There are many problems, excessively official, to resolve. The two principal ones are 1) although industry is nationalised, commerce is free, which makes for a great enrichment of the existing bourgeoisie. 2) the ranks of teachers and professional people are very reactionary. That is a problem, which could not be more tragic, for if teaching continues to escape us, we risk building in a void. However the leadership is animated with such good will that I am infected with their hopes. I will write in greater length in my next letter. However I cannot finish like this. It would be false. I must tell you again that I am happy that you are. And that I love you.

Henry

Write me about everyone: Ouri, Helene, Jacqueline, and her kid, grand mother. But above all write to me about yourself, your life, and your hopes.