Introducing Irony (Version 2)

<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</SPAN></span> <h2 class="nobreak">EMOTIONAL MONOLOGUE</h2> <blockquote> <div class="hangingindent"> <p><i>A man is sitting within the enigmatic turmoil of a railroad station. His face is narrow and young, and his nose, lips, and eyes carved to a Semitic sharpness, have been sundered by a bloodless catastrophe. A traveling-bag stands at his feet. Around him people are clutching farewells and shouting greetings. Within him a monologue addresses an empty theatre.</i></p> </div> </blockquote> <div class="poetry-container"> <div class="poetry"> <div class="verse"><div class="drop-cap4">I AM strangling emotions</div> </div> <div class="verse">And casting them into the seats</div> <div class="verse">Of an empty theatre.</div> <div class="verse">When my lifeless audience is complete,</div> <div class="verse">The ghosts of former emotions</div> <div class="verse">Will entertain their dead masters.</div> <div class="verse">After each short act</div> <div class="verse">A humorous ghost will fly through the audience,</div> <div class="verse">Striking the limp hands into applause,</div> <div class="verse">And between the acts</div> <div class="verse">Sepulchral indifference will mingle</div> <div class="verse">With the dust upon the backs of seats.</div> <div class="verse">Upon the stage a melodrama</div> <div class="verse">And a travesty will romp</div> <div class="verse">Against a back-drop of fugitive resignation.</div> <div class="verse">Climax and anti-climax</div> <div class="verse">Will jilt each other and drift</div> <div class="verse">Into a cheated insincerity.</div> <div class="verse">Sometimes the lights will retire</div> <div class="verse">While a shriek and laugh</div> <div class="verse">Make a martyr of the darkness.</div> <div class="verse">When the lights reappear</div> <div class="verse">An actor-ghost will assure the audience</div> <div class="verse">That nothing has happened save</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</SPAN></span> <div class="verse">The efforts of a fellow ghost</div> <div class="verse">To capture life again.</div> <div class="verse">In his role of usher</div> <div class="verse">Another ghost will arrange</div> <div class="verse">The lifeless limbs of the audience</div> <div class="verse">Into postures of relief.</div> <div class="verse">Sometimes a comedy will trip</div> <div class="verse">The feet of an assassin,</div> <div class="verse">Declaring that if ghosts were forced</div> <div class="verse">To undergo a second death</div> <div class="verse">Their thinness might become unbearable.</div> <div class="verse">At other times indignant tragedy</div> <div class="verse">Will banish an intruding farce,</div> <div class="verse">Claiming that life should not retain</div> <div class="verse">The luxury of another laugh.</div> <div class="verse">The first act of the play will show</div> <div class="verse">The owner of the theatre</div> <div class="verse">Conversing with the ghost of a woman.</div> <div class="verse">As unresponsive as stone</div> <div class="verse">Solidly repelling a spectral world,</div> <div class="verse">His words will keenly betray</div> <div class="verse">The bloodless control of his features.</div> <div class="verse">He will say: &#8220;With slightly lowered shoulders,</div> <div class="verse">Because of a knife sticking in my back,</div> <div class="verse">I shall trifle with crowded highways,</div> <div class="verse">Buying decorations</div> <div class="verse">For an interrupted bridal-party.</div> <div class="verse">This process will be unimportant</div> <div class="verse">To the workshop of my mind</div> <div class="verse">Where love and death are only</div> <div class="verse">Colourless problems upon a chart.&#8221;</div> <div class="verse">The ghost of the woman will say:</div> <div class="verse">&#8220;Your mind is but the rebellious servant</div> <div class="verse">Of sensitive emotions</div> <span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</SPAN></span> <div class="verse">And brings them clearer dominance.&#8221;</div> <div class="verse">And what shall I mournfully answer?</div> <div class="verse">I am strangling emotions</div> <div class="verse">And casting them into the seats</div> <div class="verse">Of an empty theatre.</div> </div></div> <hr class="chap" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />