Улисс

           Feelnomore.It’sthemomentyoufeel.Mustbedamnedunpleasant.Can’tbelieveitatfirst.Mistakemustbe:someoneelse.Trythehouseopposite.Wait,Iwantedto.Ihaven’tyet.Thendarkeneddeathchamber.Lighttheywant.Whisperingaroundyou.Wouldyouliketoseeapriest?Thenramblingandwandering.Deliriumallyouhidallyourlife.Thedeathstruggle.Hissleepisnotnatural.Presshislowereyelid.Watchingishisnosepointedishisjawsinkingarethesolesofhisfeetyellow.Pullthepillowawayandfinishitoffonthefloorsincehe’sdoomed.Devilinthatpictureofsinner’sdeathshowinghimawoman.Dyingtoembraceherinhisshirt.LastactofLucia.ShallInevermorebeholdthee?Bam!Heexpires.Goneatlast.Peopletalkaboutyouabit:forgetyou.Don’tforgettoprayforhim.Rememberhiminyourprayers.EvenParnell.Ivydaydyingout.Thentheyfollow:droppingintoahole,oneaftertheother.

           Weareprayingnowforthereposeofhissoul.Hopingyou’rewellandnotinhell.Nicechangeofair.Outofthefryingpanoflifeintothefireofpurgatory.

           Doesheeverthinkoftheholewaitingforhimself?Theysayyoudowhenyoushiverinthesun.Someonewalkingoverit.Callboy’swarning.Nearyou.MineovertheretowardsFinglas,theplotIbought.Mamma,poormamma,andlittleRudy.

           Thegravediggerstookuptheirspadesandflungheavyclodsofclayinonthecoffin.MrBloomturnedawayhisface.Andifhewasaliveallthetime?Whew!Byjingo,thatwouldbeawful!No,no:heisdead,ofcourse.Ofcourseheisdead.Mondayhedied.