Улисс

           MrBloomfoldedthesheetsagaintoaneatsquareandlodgedthesoapinit,smiling.Sillylipsofthatchap.Betting.Regularhotbedofitlately.Messengerboysstealingtoputonsixpence.Raffleforlargetenderturkey.YourChristmasdinnerforthreepence.JackFlemingembezzlingtogamblethensmuggledofftoAmerica.Keepsahotelnow.Theynevercomeback.FleshpotsofEgypt.

           Hewalkedcheerfullytowardsthemosqueofthebaths.Remindyouofamosque,redbakedbricks,theminarets.CollegesportstodayIsee.Heeyedthehorseshoeposteroverthegateofcollegepark:cyclistdoubleduplikeacodinapot.Damnbadad.Nowiftheyhadmadeitroundlikeawheel.Thenthespokes:sports,sports,sports:andthehubbig:college.Somethingtocatchtheeye.

           There’sHornblowerstandingattheporter’slodge.Keephimonhands:mighttakeaturninthereonthenod.Howdoyoudo,MrHornblower?Howdoyoudo,sir?

           Heavenlyweatherreally.Iflifewasalwayslikethat.Cricketweather.Sitaroundundersunshades.Overafterover.Out.Theycan’tplayithere.Duckforsixwickets.StillCaptainCullerbrokeawindowintheKildarestreetclubwithaslogtosquareleg.Donnybrookfairmoreintheirline.AndtheskullswewereacrackingwhenM’Carthytookthefloor.Heatwave.Won’tlast.Alwayspassing,thestreamoflife,whichinthestreamoflifewetraceisdearerthanthemall.

           Enjoyabathnow:cleantroughofwater,coolenamel,thegentletepidstream.Thisismybody.

           Heforesawhispalebodyreclinedinitatfull,naked,inawombofwarmth,oiledbyscentedmeltingsoap,softlylaved