men, women and ghosts(男人、女人和鬼魂)-第24节
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green platforms； and flapping itself against the painted uniforms。
The nodding mandarin moves his head slowly； forward and back。 The
rose is broken； and where it fell is black blood。 The old mandarin leers
under his purple umbrella； and nods forward and back； staring into the
air with blue…green eyes。 Every time his head comes forward a rosebud
pushes between his lips； rushes into full bloom； and drips to the ground
with a splashing sound。 The pool of black blood grows and grows； with
each dropped rose； and spreads out to join the stream from the wash…stand。
The beautiful army of lead soldiers steps boldly forward； but the little
green platforms are covered in the rising stream of blood。
The nursery fire burns brightly and flings fan…bursts of stars up the
chimney； as though a gala flamed a night of victorious wars。
The Painter on Silk
There was a man Who made his living By painting roses Upon silk。
He sat in an upper chamber And painted； And the noises of the street
Meant nothing to him。
When he heard bugles； and fifes； and drums； He thought of red； and
yellow； and white roses Bursting in the sunshine； And smiled as he
worked。
He thought only of roses； And silk。 When he could get no more silk He
stopped painting And only thought Of roses。
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Men； Women and Ghosts
The day the conquerors Entered the city； The old man Lay dying。 He
heard the bugles and drums； And wished he could paint the roses Bursting
into sound。
A Ballad of Footmen
Now what in the name of the sun and the stars Is the meaning of this
most unholy of wars？
Do men find life so full of humour and joy That for want of excitement
they smash up the toy？
Fifteen millions of soldiers with popguns and horses All bent upon
killing； because their 〃of courses〃
Are not quite the same。 All these men by the ears； And nine nations
of women choking with tears。
It is folly to think that the will of a king Can force men to make ducks
and drakes of a thing
They value； and life is； at least one supposes； Of some little interest；
even if roses
Have not grown up between one foot and the other。 What a marvel
bureaucracy is； which can smother
Such quite elementary feelings； and tag A man with a number； and set
him to wag
His legs and his arms at the word of command Or the blow of a
whistle！ He's certainly damned；
Fit only for mince…meat； if a little gold lace And an upturned
moustache can set him to face
Bullets； and bayonets； and death； and diseases； Because some one he
calls his Emperor； pleases。
If each man were to lay down his weapon； and say； With a click of his
heels； 〃I wish you Good…day；〃
Now what； may I ask； could the Emperor do？ A king and his minions
are really so few。
Angry？ Oh； of course； a most furious Emperor！ But the men are so
many they need not mind his temper； or
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Men； Women and Ghosts
The dire results which could not be inflicted。 With no one to execute
sentence； convicted
Is just the weak wind from an old； broken bellows。 What lackeys men
are； who might be such fine fellows！
To be killing each other； unmercifully； At an order； as though one said；
〃Bring up the tea。〃
Or is it that tasting the blood on their jaws They lap at it； drunk with its
ferment； and laws
So patiently builded； are nothing to drinking More blood； any blood。
They don't notice its stinking。
I don't suppose tigers do； fighting cocks； sparrows； And； as to men
what are men； when their marrows
Are running with blood they have gulped； it is plain Such excellent
sport does not recollect pain。
Toll the bells in the steeples left standing。 Half…mast The flags which
meant order； for order is past。
Take the dust of the streets and sprinkle your head； The civilization
we've worked for is dead。
Squeeze into this archway； the head of the line Has just swung round
the corner to ‘Die Wacht am Rhein'。
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Men； Women and Ghosts
The Overgrown Pasture
Reaping
You want to know what's the matter with me； do yer？ My！ ain't men
blinder'n moles？ It ain't nothin' new； be sure o' that。 Why； ef you'd had
eyes you'd ha' seed Me changin' under your very nose； Each day a little
diff'rent。 But you never see nothin'； you don't。 Don't touch me； Jake； Don't
you dars't to touch me； I ain't in no humour。 That's what's come over me；
Jest a change clear through。 You lay still； an' I'll tell yer； I've had it on my
mind to tell yer Fer some time。 It's a strain livin' a lie from mornin' till
night； An' I'm goin' to put an end to it right now。 An' don't make any
mistake about one thing； When I married yer I loved yer。 Why； your voice
'ud make Me go hot and cold all over； An' your kisses most stopped my
heart from beatin'。 Lord！ I was a silly fool。 But that's the way 'twas。 Well；
I married yer An' thought Heav'n was comin' To set on the door…step。
Heav'n didn't do no settin'； Though the first year warn't so bad。 The baby's
fever threw you off some； I guess； An' then I took her death real hard； An'
a mopey wife kind o' disgusts a man。 I ain't blamin' yer exactly。 But that's
how 'twas。 Do lay quiet； I know I'm slow； but it's harder to say 'n I thought。
There come a time when I got to be More wife agin than mother。 The
mother part was sort of a waste When we didn't have no other child。 But
you'd got used ter lots o' things； An' you was all took up with the farm。
Many's the time I've laid awake Watchin' the moon go clear through the
elm…tree； Out o' sight。 I'd foller yer around like a dog； An' set in the chair
you'd be'n settin' in； Jest to feel its arms around me； So long's I didn't have
yours。 It preyed on me； I guess； Longin' and longin' While you was busy
all day； and snorin' all night。 Yes； I know you're wide awake now； But now
ain't then； An' I guess you'll think diff'rent When I'm done。 Do you mind
the day you went to Hadrock？ I didn't want to stay home for reasons； But
you said someone 'd have to be here 'Cause Elmer was comin' to see t' th'
telephone。 An' you never see why I was so set on goin' with yer； Our
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married life hadn't be'n any great shakes； Still marriage is marriage； an' I
was raised God…fearin'。 But； Lord； you didn't notice nothin'； An' Elmer
hangin' around all Winter！ 'Twas a lovely mornin'。 The apple…trees was jest
elegant With their blossoms all flared out； An' there warn't a cloud in the
sky。 You went； you wouldn't pay no 'tention to what I said； An' I heard the
Ford chuggin' for most a mile； The air was so still。 Then Elmer come。 It's
no use your frettin'； Jake； I'll tell you all about it。 I know what I'm doin'；
An' what's worse； I know what I done。 Elmer fixed th' telephone in about
two minits； An' he didn't seem in no hurry to go； An' I don't know as I
wanted him to go either； I was awful mad at your not takin' me with yer；
An' I was tired o' wishin' and wishin' An' gittin' no comfort。 I guess it ain't
necessary to tell yer all the things。 He stayed to dinner； An' he helped me
do the dishes； An' he said a home was a fine thing； An' I said dishes warn't
a home Nor yet the room they're in。 He said a lot o' things； An' I fended
him off at first； But he got talkin' all around me； Clost up to the things I'd
be'n thinkin'； What's the use o' me goin' on； Jake； You know。 He got all he
wanted； An' I give it to him； An' what's more； I'm glad！ I ain't dead；
anyway； An' somebody thinks I'm somethin'。 Keep away； Jake； You can
kill me to…morrer if you want to； But I'm goin' to have my say。 Funny thing！
Guess I ain't made to hold a man。 Elmer ain't be'n here for mor'n two
months。 I don't want to pretend nothin'； Mebbe if he'd be'n lately I
shou
