down at them I was jumping up at the pepper trees
and the white poplars pulling the leaves off and throwing
them at him he went to India he was to write the voyages
those men have to make to the ends of the world and
back its the least they might get a squeeze or two
at a woman while they can going out to be drowned or
blown up somewhere I went up Windmill hill to the
flats that Sunday morning with captain Rubios that
was dead spyglass like the sentry had he said hed
have one or two from on board I wore that frock from
the B Marche paris and the coral necklace the straits
shining I could see over to Morocco almost the bay
of Tangier white and the Atlas mountain with snow on
it and the straits like a river so clear Harry Molly
darling I was thinking of him on the sea all the time
after at mass when my petticoat began to slip down
at the elevation weeks and weeks I kept the handkerchief
under my pillow for the smell of him there was no
decent perfume to be got in that Gibraltar only that
cheap peau despagne that faded and left a stink on
you more than anything else I wanted to give him a
memento he gave me that clumsy Claddagh ring for luck
that I gave Gardner going to south Africa where those
Boers killed him with their war and fever but they
were well beaten all the same as if it brought its
bad luck with it like an opal or pearl still it must
have been pure 18 carrot gold because it was very
heavy but what could you get in a place like that the
sandfrog shower from Africa and that derelict ship
that came up to the harbour Marie the Marie whatyoucallit
no he hadnt a moustache that was Gardner yes I can
see his face cleanshaven Frseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeefrong
that train again weeping tone once in the dear deaead
days beyondre call close my eyes breath my lips forward
kiss sad look eyes open piano ere oer the world the
mists began I hate that istsbeg comes loves sweet
sooooooooooong Ill let that out full when I get in
front of the footlights again Kathleen Kearney and
her lot of squealers Miss This Miss That Miss Theother
lot of sparrowfarts skitting around talking about
politics they know as much about as my backside anything
in the world to make themselves someway interesting
Irish homemade beauties soldiers daughter am I ay
and whose are you bootmakers and publicans I beg your
pardon coach I thought you were a wheelbarrow theyd
die down dead off their feet if ever they got a chance
of walking down the Alameda on an officers arm like
me on the bandnight my eyes flash my bust that they
havent passion God help their poor head I knew more
about men and life when I was I S than theyll all
know at 50 they dont know how to sing a song like
that Gardner said no man could look at my mouth and
teeth smiling like that and not think of it I was
afraid he mightnt like my accent first he so English
all father left me in spite of his stamps Ive my mothers
eyes and figure anyhow he always said theyre so snotty
about themselves some of those cads he wasnt a bit
like that he was dead gone on my lips let them get