Улисс

           Abirdsattamelyperchedonapoplarbranch.Likestuffed.LiketheweddingpresentaldermanHoopergaveus.Hoo!Notabudgeoutofhim.Knowstherearenocatapultstoletflyathim.Deadanimalevensadder.Silly-Millyburyingthelittledeadbirdinthekitchenmatchbox,adaisychainandbitsofbrokenchainiesonthegrave.

           TheSacredHeartthatis:showingit.Heartonhissleeve.Oughttobesidewaysandreditshouldbepaintedlikearealheart.Irelandwasdedicatedtoitorwhateverthat.Seemsanythingbutpleased.Whythisinfliction?Wouldbirdscomethenandpeckliketheboywiththebasketoffruitbuthesaidnobecausetheyoughttohavebeenafraidoftheboy.Apollothatwas.

           Howmany!AllthesehereoncewalkedroundDublin.Faithfuldeparted.Asyouarenowsooncewerewe.

           Besideshowcouldyouremembereverybody?Eyes,walk,voice.Well,thevoice,yes:gramophone.Haveagramophoneineverygraveorkeepitinthehouse.AfterdinneronaSunday.Putonpooroldgreatgrandfather.Kraahraark!Hellohellohelloamawfullygladkraarkawfullygladaseeagainhellohelloamawfkrpthsth.Remindyouofthevoicelikethephotographremindsyouoftheface.Otherwiseyoucouldn’trememberthefaceafterfifteenyears,say.Forinstancewho?ForinstancesomefellowthatdiedwhenIwasinWisdomHely’s.

           Rtststr!Arattleofpebbles.Wait.Stop!

           Helookeddownintentlyintoastonecrypt.Someanimal.Wait.Therehegoes.

           Anobesegreyrattoddledalongthesideofthecrypt,movingthepebbles.Anoldstager:greatgrandfather:heknowstheropes.