Улисс
Chapter 1
Mymother’sajew,myfather’sabird.
WithJosephthejoinerIcannotagree.
Sohere’stodisciplesandCalvary.
Heheldupaforefingerofwarning.
—IfanyonethinksthatIamn’tdivine
He’llgetnofreedrinkswhenI’mmakingthewine
Buthavetodrinkwaterandwishitwereplain
ThatImakewhenthewinebecomeswateragain.
HetuggedswiftlyatStephen’sashplantinfarewelland,runningforwardtoabrowofthecliff,flutteredhishandsathissideslikefinsorwingsofoneabouttoriseintheair,andchanted:
—Goodbye,now,goodbye!WritedownallIsaid
AndtellTom,DickandHarryIrosefromthedead.
What’sbredinthebonecannotfailmetofly
AndOlivet’sbreezy...Goodbye,now,goodbye!
Hecaperedbeforethemdowntowardsthefortyfoothole,flutteringhiswinglikehands,leapingnimbly,Mercury’shatquiveringinthefreshwindthatborebacktothemhisbriefbirdsweetcries.
Haines,whohadbeenlaughingguardedly,walkedonbesideStephenandsaid:
—Weoughtn’ttolaugh,Isuppose.He’sratherblasphemous.I’mnotabelievermyself,thatistosay.Stillhisgaietytakestheharmoutofitsomehow,doesn’tit?Whatdidhecallit?JosephtheJoiner?
—TheballadofjokingJesus,Stephenanswered.
—O,Hainessaid,youhavehearditbefore?
—Threetimesaday,aftermeals,Stephensaiddrily.
—You’renotabeliever,areyou?Hainesasked.Imean,abelieverinthenarrowsenseoftheword.CreationfromnothingandmiraclesandapersonalGod.
—There’sonlyonesenseoftheword,itseemstome,Stephensaid.
