Улисс

           Seventhheaven.Womenkneltinthebencheswithcrimsonhaltersroundtheirnecks,headsbowed.Abatchkneltatthealtarrails.Thepriestwentalongbythem,murmuring,holdingthethinginhishands.Hestoppedateach,tookoutacommunion,shookadroportwo(aretheyinwater?)offitandputitneatlyintohermouth.Herhatandheadsank.Thenthenextone.Herhatsankatonce.Thenthenextone:asmalloldwoman.Thepriestbentdowntoputitintohermouth,murmuringallthetime.Latin.Thenextone.Shutyoureyesandopenyourmouth.What?Corpus:body.Corpse.GoodideatheLatin.Stupefiesthemfirst.Hospiceforthedying.Theydon’tseemtochewit:onlyswallowitdown.Rumidea:eatingbitsofacorpse.Whythecannibalscottontoit.

           Hestoodasidewatchingtheirblindmaskspassdowntheaisle,onebyone,andseektheirplaces.Heapproachedabenchandseatedhimselfinitscorner,nursinghishatandnewspaper.Thesepotswehavetowear.Weoughttohavehatsmodelledonourheads.Theywereabouthimhereandthere,withheadsstillbowedintheircrimsonhalters,waitingforittomeltintheirstomachs.Somethinglikethosemazzoth:it’sthatsortofbread:unleavenedshewbread.Lookatthem.NowIbetitmakesthemfeelhappy.Lollipop.Itdoes.Yes,breadofangelsit’scalled.There’sabigideabehindit,kindofkingdomofGodiswithinyoufeel.Firstcommunicants.Hokypokypennyalump.Thenfeelalllikeonefamilyparty,sameinthetheatre,allinthesameswim.Theydo.I’msureofthat.Notsolonely.Inourconfraternity.Thencomeoutabitspreeish.Letoffsteam.