This poem is taken from PN Review 249, Volume 46 Number 1, September - October 2019.
Five Poems
Two Roses
I see great progress in your last letter but at the same time there is a sad note which we do not like. – James Joyce to his daughter Lucia, 1934
Please father-mother remember your splendid blooms
The Zephrine Drouhn beside the cottage door
The Generous Gardener round the arbour
I would like that – those –
They’re what I’m looking for.
The farmers here are not my friends.
Everyone else is ill.
He and I alone can’t help each other.
A drowning man clinging to a permeable vessel.
I know what you’re thinking: which part am I playing?
I’m playing the drowning man.
Please father-mother amongst all this I have such conversations:
‘Another biscuit? Why yes thank you I think I will!’
So my clothes tighten.
...
I see great progress in your last letter but at the same time there is a sad note which we do not like. – James Joyce to his daughter Lucia, 1934
Please father-mother remember your splendid blooms
The Zephrine Drouhn beside the cottage door
The Generous Gardener round the arbour
I would like that – those –
They’re what I’m looking for.
The farmers here are not my friends.
Everyone else is ill.
He and I alone can’t help each other.
A drowning man clinging to a permeable vessel.
I know what you’re thinking: which part am I playing?
I’m playing the drowning man.
Please father-mother amongst all this I have such conversations:
‘Another biscuit? Why yes thank you I think I will!’
So my clothes tighten.
...
The page you have requested is restricted to subscribers only. Please enter your username and password and click on 'Continue'.
If you have forgotten your username and password, please enter the email address you used when you joined. Your login details will then be emailed to the address specified.
If you are not a subscriber and would like to enjoy the 286 issues containing over 11,500 poems, articles, reports, interviews and reviews, why not subscribe to the website today?
If you have forgotten your username and password, please enter the email address you used when you joined. Your login details will then be emailed to the address specified.
If you are not a subscriber and would like to enjoy the 286 issues containing over 11,500 poems, articles, reports, interviews and reviews, why not subscribe to the website today?