Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 5
Igazeuponthemastheswallowgazes
Uponthenestundertheeavebefore
Hewandertheloudwaters.
Asoftliquidjoylikethenoiseofmanywatersflowedoverhismemoryandhefeltinhisheartthesoftpeaceofsilentspacesoffadingtenuousskyabovethewaters,ofoceanicsilence,ofswallowsflyingthroughthesea-duskovertheflowingwaters.
Asoftliquidjoyflowedthroughthewordswherethesoftlongvowelshurtlednoiselesslyandfellaway,lappingandflowingbackandevershakingthewhitebellsoftheirwavesinmutechimeandmutepeal,andsoftlowswooningcry;andhefeltthattheauguryhehadsoughtinthewheelingdartingbirdsandinthepalespaceofskyabovehimhadcomeforthfromhisheartlikeabirdfromaturret,quietlyandswiftly.
Symbolofdepartureorofloneliness?Theversescroonedintheearofhismemorycomposedslowlybeforehisrememberingeyesthesceneofthehallonthenightoftheopeningofthenationaltheatre.Hewasaloneatthesideofthebalcony,lookingoutofjadedeyesatthecultureofDublinInthestallsandatthetawdryscene-clothsandhumandollsframedbythegarishlampsofthestage.Aburlypolicemansweatedbehindhimandseemedateverymomentabouttoact.Thecatcallsandhissesandmockingcriesraninrudegustsroundthehallfromhisscatteredfellowstudents.
—AlibelonIreland!
—MadeinGermany.
