<p>Other hand a sixfooter with a wifey up to his watchpocket. Long and the short
of it. Big he and little she. Very strange about my watch. Wristwatches are
always going wrong. Wonder is there any magnetic influence between the person
because that was about the time he. Yes, I suppose, at once. Cat’s away, the
mice will play. I remember looking in Pill lane. Also that now is magnetism.
Back of everything magnetism. Earth for instance pulling this and being pulled.
That causes movement. And time, well that’s the time the movement takes. Then
if one thing stopped the whole ghesabo would stop bit by bit. Because it’s all
arranged. Magnetic needle tells you what’s going on in the sun, the stars.
Little piece of steel iron. When you hold out the fork. Come. Come. Tip. Woman
and man that is. Fork and steel. Molly, he. Dress up and look and suggest and
let you see and see more and defy you if you’re a man to see that and, like a
sneeze coming, legs, look, look and if you have any guts in you. Tip. Have to
let fly.</p>
<p>Wonder how is she feeling in that region. Shame all put on before third person.
More put out about a hole in her stocking. Molly, her underjaw stuck out, head
back, about the farmer in the ridingboots and spurs at the horse show. And when
the painters were in Lombard street west. Fine voice that fellow had. How
Giuglini began. Smell that I did. Like flowers. It was too. Violets. Came from
the turpentine probably in the paint. Make their own use of everything. Same
time doing it scraped her slipper on the floor so they wouldn’t hear. But lots
of them can’t kick the beam, I think. Keep that thing up for hours. Kind of a
general all round over me and half down my back.</p>
<p>Wait. Hm. Hm. Yes. That’s her perfume. Why she waved her hand. I leave you this
to think of me when I’m far away on the pillow. What is it? Heliotrope? No.
Hyacinth? Hm. Roses, I think. She’d like scent of that kind. Sweet and cheap:
soon sour. Why Molly likes opoponax. Suits her, with a little jessamine mixed.
Her high notes and her low notes. At the dance night she met him, dance of the
hours. Heat brought it out. She was wearing her black and it had the perfume of
the time before. Good conductor, is it? Or bad? Light too. Suppose there’s some
connection. For instance if you go into a cellar where it’s dark. Mysterious
thing too. Why did I smell it only now? Took its time in coming like herself,
slow but sure. Suppose it’s ever so many millions of tiny grains blown across.
Yes, it is. Because those spice islands, Cinghalese this morning, smell them
leagues off. Tell you what it is. It’s like a fine fine veil or web they have
all over the skin, fine like what do you call it gossamer, and they’re always
spinning it out of them, fine as anything, like rainbow colours without knowing
it. Clings to everything she takes off. Vamp of her stockings. Warm shoe.
Stays. Drawers: little kick, taking them off. Byby till next time. Also the cat
likes to sniff in her shift on the bed. Know her smell in a thousand. Bathwater
too. Reminds me of strawberries and cream. Wonder where it is really. There or
the armpits or under the neck. Because you get it out of all holes and corners.
Hyacinth perfume made of oil of ether or something. Muskrat. Bag under their
tails. One grain pour off odour for years. Dogs at each other behind. Good
evening. Evening. How do you sniff? Hm. Hm. Very well, thank you. Animals go by
that. Yes now, look at it that way. We’re the same. Some women, instance, warn
you off when they have their period. Come near. Then get a hogo you could hang
your hat on. Like what? Potted herrings gone stale or. Boof! Please keep off
the grass.</p>
<p>Perhaps they get a man smell off us. What though? Cigary gloves long John had
on his desk the other day. Breath? What you eat and drink gives that. No.
Mansmell, I mean. Must be connected with that because priests that are supposed
to be are different. Women buzz round it like flies round treacle. Railed off
the altar get on to it at any cost. The tree of forbidden priest. O, father,
will you? Let me be the first to. That diffuses itself all through the body,
permeates. Source of life. And it’s extremely curious the smell. Celery sauce.
Let me.</p>
<p>Mr Bloom inserted his nose. Hm. Into the. Hm. Opening of his waistcoat. Almonds
or. No. Lemons it is. Ah no, that’s the soap.</p>
<p>O by the by that lotion. I knew there was something on my mind. Never went back
and the soap not paid. Dislike carrying bottles like that hag this morning.
Hynes might have paid me that three shillings. I could mention Meagher’s just
to remind him. Still if he works that paragraph. Two and nine. Bad opinion of
me he’ll have. Call tomorrow. How much do I owe you? Three and nine? Two and
nine, sir. Ah. Might stop him giving credit another time. Lose your customers
that way. Pubs do. Fellows run up a bill on the slate and then slinking around
the back streets into somewhere else.</p>
<p>Here’s this nobleman passed before. Blown in from the bay. Just went as far as
turn back. Always at home at dinnertime. Looks mangled out: had a good tuck in.
Enjoying nature now. Grace after meals. After supper walk a mile. Sure he has a
small bank balance somewhere, government sit. Walk after him now make him
awkward like those newsboys me today. Still you learn something. See ourselves
as others see us. So long as women don’t mock what matter? That’s the way to
find out. Ask yourself who is he now. <i>The Mystery Man on the Beach</i>,
prize titbit story by Mr Leopold Bloom. Payment at the rate of one guinea per
column. And that fellow today at the graveside in the brown macintosh. Corns on
his kismet however. Healthy perhaps absorb all the. Whistle brings rain they
say. Must be some somewhere. Salt in the Ormond damp. The body feels the
atmosphere. Old Betty’s joints are on the rack. Mother Shipton’s prophecy that
is about ships around they fly in the twinkling. No. Signs of rain it is. The
royal reader. And distant hills seem coming nigh.</p>
<p>Howth. Bailey light. Two, four, six, eight, nine. See. Has to change or they
might think it a house. Wreckers. Grace Darling. People afraid of the dark.
Also glowworms, cyclists: lightingup time. Jewels diamonds flash better. Women.
Light is a kind of reassuring. Not going to hurt you. Better now of course than
long ago. Country roads. Run you through the small guts for nothing. Still two
types there are you bob against. Scowl or smile. Pardon! Not at all. Best time
to spray plants too in the shade after the sun. Some light still. Red rays are
longest. Roygbiv Vance taught us: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo,
violet. A star I see. Venus? Can’t tell yet. Two. When three it’s night. Were
those nightclouds there all the time? Looks like a phantom ship. No. Wait.
Trees are they? An optical illusion. Mirage. Land of the setting sun this.
Homerule sun setting in the southeast. My native land, goodnight.</p>
<p>Dew falling. Bad for you, dear, to sit on that stone. Brings on white fluxions.
Never have little baby then less he was big strong fight his way up through.
Might get piles myself. Sticks too like a summer cold, sore on the mouth. Cut
with grass or paper worst. Friction of the position. Like to be that rock she
sat on. O sweet little, you don’t know how nice you looked. I begin to like
them at that age. Green apples. Grab at all that offer. Suppose it’s the only
time we cross legs, seated. Also the library today: those girl graduates. Happy
chairs under them. But it’s the evening influence. They feel all that. Open
like flowers, know their hours, sunflowers, Jerusalem artichokes, in ballrooms,
chandeliers, avenues under the lamps. Nightstock in Mat Dillon’s garden where I
kissed her shoulder. Wish I had a full length oilpainting of her then. June
that was too I wooed. The year returns. History repeats itself. Ye crags and
peaks I’m with you once again. Life, love, voyage round your own little world.
And now? Sad about her lame of course but must be on your guard not to feel too
much pity. They take advantage.</p>
<p>All quiet on Howth now. The distant hills seem. Where we. The rhododendrons. I
am a fool perhaps. He gets the plums, and I the plumstones. Where I come in.
All that old hill has seen. Names change: that’s all. Lovers: yum yum.</p>
<p>Tired I feel now. Will I get up? O wait. Drained all the manhood out of me,
little wretch. She kissed me. Never again. My youth. Only once it comes. Or
hers. Take the train there tomorrow. No. Returning not the same. Like kids your
second visit to a house. The new I want. Nothing new under the sun. Care of P.
O. Dolphin’s Barn. Are you not happy in your? Naughty darling. At Dolphin’s
barn charades in Luke Doyle’s house. Mat Dillon and his bevy of daughters:
Tiny, Atty, Floey, Maimy, Louy, Hetty. Molly too. Eightyseven that was. Year
before we. And the old major, partial to his drop of spirits. Curious she an
only child, I an only child. So it returns. Think you’re escaping and run into
yourself. Longest way round is the shortest way home. And just when he and she.
Circus horse walking in a ring. Rip van Winkle we played. Rip: tear in Henny
Doyle’s overcoat. Van: breadvan delivering. Winkle: cockles and periwinkles.
Then I did Rip van Winkle coming back. She leaned on the sideboard watching.
Moorish eyes. Twenty years asleep in Sleepy Hollow. All changed. Forgotten. The
young are old. His gun rusty from the dew.</p>
<p>Ba. What is that flying about? Swallow? Bat probably. Thinks I’m a tree, so
blind. Have birds no smell? Metempsychosis. They believed you could be changed
into a tree from grief. Weeping willow. Ba. There he goes. Funny little beggar.
Wonder where he lives. Belfry up there. Very likely. Hanging by his heels in
the odour of sanctity. Bell scared him out, I suppose. Mass seems to be over.
Could hear them all at it. Pray for us. And pray for us. And pray for us. Good
idea the repetition. Same thing with ads. Buy from us. And buy from us. Yes,
there’s the light in the priest’s house. Their frugal meal. Remember about the
mistake in the valuation when I was in Thom’s. Twentyeight it is. Two houses
they have. Gabriel Conroy’s brother is curate. Ba. Again. Wonder why they come
out at night like mice. They’re a mixed breed. Birds are like hopping mice.
What frightens them, light or noise? Better sit still. All instinct like the
bird in drouth got water out of the end of a jar by throwing in pebbles. Like a
little man in a cloak he is with tiny hands. Weeny bones. Almost see them
shimmering, kind of a bluey white. Colours depend on the light you see. Stare
the sun for example like the eagle then look at a shoe see a blotch blob
yellowish. Wants to stamp his trademark on everything. Instance, that cat this
morning on the staircase. Colour of brown turf. Say you never see them with
three colours. Not true. That half tabbywhite tortoiseshell in the <i>City
Arms</i> with the letter em on her forehead. Body fifty different colours.
Howth a while ago amethyst. Glass flashing. That’s how that wise man what’s his
name with the burning glass. Then the heather goes on fire. It can’t be
tourists’ matches. What? Perhaps the sticks dry rub together in the wind and
light. Or broken bottles in the furze act as a burning glass in the sun.
Archimedes. I have it! My memory’s not so bad.</p>
<p>Ba. Who knows what they’re always flying for. Insects? That bee last week got
into the room playing with his shadow on the ceiling. Might be the one bit me,
come back to see. Birds too. Never find out. Or what they say. Like our small
talk. And says she and says he. Nerve they have to fly over the ocean and back.
Lots must be killed in storms, telegraph wires. Dreadful life sailors have too.
Big brutes of oceangoing steamers floundering along in the dark, lowing out
like seacows. <i>Faugh a ballagh!</i> Out of that, bloody curse to you! Others
in vessels, bit of a handkerchief sail, pitched about like snuff at a wake when
the stormy winds do blow. Married too. Sometimes away for years at the ends of
the earth somewhere. No ends really because it’s round. Wife in every port they
say. She has a good job if she minds it till Johnny comes marching home again.
If ever he does. Smelling the tail end of ports. How can they like the sea? Yet
they do. The anchor’s weighed. Off he sails with a scapular or a medal on him
for luck. Well. And the tephilim no what’s this they call it poor papa’s father
had on his door to touch. That brought us out of the land of Egypt and into the
house of bondage. Something in all those superstitions because when you go out
never know what dangers. Hanging on to a plank or astride of a beam for grim
life, lifebelt round him, gulping salt water, and that’s the last of his nibs
till the sharks catch hold of him. Do fish ever get seasick?</p>
<p>Then you have a beautiful calm without a cloud, smooth sea, placid, crew and
cargo in smithereens, Davy Jones’ locker, moon looking down so peaceful. Not my
fault, old cockalorum.</p>
<p>A last lonely candle wandered up the sky from Mirus bazaar in search of funds
for Mercer’s hospital and broke, drooping, and shed a cluster of violet but one
white stars. They floated, fell: they faded. The shepherd’s hour: the hour of
folding: hour of tryst. From house to house, giving his everwelcome double
knock, went the nine o’clock postman, the glowworm’s lamp at his belt gleaming
here and there through the laurel hedges. And among the five young trees a
hoisted lintstock lit the lamp at Leahy’s terrace. By screens of lighted
windows, by equal gardens a shrill voice went crying, wailing: <i>Evening
Telegraph, stop press edition! Result of the Gold Cup races!</i> and from the
door of Dignam’s house a boy ran out and called. Twittering the bat flew here,
flew there. Far out over the sands the coming surf crept, grey. Howth settled
for slumber, tired of long days, of yumyum rhododendrons (he was old) and felt
gladly the night breeze lift, ruffle his fell of ferns. He lay but opened a red
eye unsleeping, deep and slowly breathing, slumberous but awake. And far on
Kish bank the anchored lightship twinkled, winked at Mr Bloom.</p>
<p>Life those chaps out there must have, stuck in the same spot. Irish Lights
board. Penance for their sins. Coastguards too. Rocket and breeches buoy and
lifeboat. Day we went out for the pleasure cruise in the Erin’s King, throwing
them the sack of old papers. Bears in the zoo. Filthy trip. Drunkards out to
shake up their livers. Puking overboard to feed the herrings. Nausea. And the
women, fear of God in their faces. Milly, no sign of funk. Her blue scarf
loose, laughing. Don’t know what death is at that age. And then their stomachs
clean. But being lost they fear. When we hid behind the tree at Crumlin. I
didn’t want to. Mamma! Mamma! Babes in the wood. Frightening them with masks
too. Throwing them up in the air to catch them. I’ll murder you. Is it only
half fun? Or children playing battle. Whole earnest. How can people aim guns at
each other. Sometimes they go off. Poor kids! Only troubles wildfire and
nettlerash. Calomel purge I got her for that. After getting better asleep with
Molly. Very same teeth she has. What do they love? Another themselves? But the
morning she chased her with the umbrella. Perhaps so as not to hurt. I felt her
pulse. Ticking. Little hand it was: now big. Dearest Papli. All that the hand
says when you touch. Loved to count my waistcoat buttons. Her first stays I
remember. Made me laugh to see. Little paps to begin with. Left one is more
sensitive, I think. Mine too. Nearer the heart? Padding themselves out if fat
is in fashion. Her growing pains at night, calling, wakening me. Frightened she
was when her nature came on her first. Poor child! Strange moment for the
mother too. Brings back her girlhood. Gibraltar. Looking from Buena Vista.
O’Hara’s tower. The seabirds screaming. Old Barbary ape that gobbled all his
family. Sundown, gunfire for the men to cross the lines. Looking out over the
sea she told me. Evening like this, but clear, no clouds. I always thought I’d
marry a lord or a rich gentleman coming with a private yacht. <i>Buenas noches,
señorita. El hombre ama la muchacha hermosa</i>. Why me? Because you were so
foreign from the others.</p>
<p>Better not stick here all night like a limpet. This weather makes you dull.
Must be getting on for nine by the light. Go home. Too late for <i>Leah, Lily
of Killarney.</i> No. Might be still up. Call to the hospital to see. Hope
she’s over. Long day I’ve had. Martha, the bath, funeral, house of Keyes,
museum with those goddesses, Dedalus’ song. Then that bawler in Barney
Kiernan’s. Got my own back there. Drunken ranters what I said about his God
made him wince. Mistake to hit back. Or? No. Ought to go home and laugh at
themselves. Always want to be swilling in company. Afraid to be alone like a
child of two. Suppose he hit me. Look at it other way round. Not so bad then.
Perhaps not to hurt he meant. Three cheers for Israel. Three cheers for the
sister-in-law he hawked about, three fangs in her mouth. Same style of beauty.
Particularly nice old party for a cup of tea. The sister of the wife of the
wild man of Borneo has just come to town. Imagine that in the early morning at
close range. Everyone to his taste as Morris said when he kissed the cow. But
Dignam’s put the boots on it. Houses of mourning so depressing because you
never know. Anyhow she wants the money. Must call to those Scottish Widows as I
promised. Strange name. Takes it for granted we’re going to pop off first. That
widow on Monday was it outside Cramer’s that looked at me. Buried the poor
husband but progressing favourably on the premium. Her widow’s mite. Well? What
do you expect her to do? Must wheedle her way along. Widower I hate to see.
Looks so forlorn. Poor man O’Connor wife and five children poisoned by mussels
here. The sewage. Hopeless. Some good matronly woman in a porkpie hat to mother
him. Take him in tow, platter face and a large apron. Ladies’ grey flannelette
bloomers, three shillings a pair, astonishing bargain. Plain and loved, loved
for ever, they say. Ugly: no woman thinks she is. Love, lie and be handsome for
tomorrow we die. See him sometimes walking about trying to find out who played
the trick. U. p: up. Fate that is. He, not me. Also a shop often noticed. Curse
seems to dog it. Dreamt last night? Wait. Something confused. She had red
slippers on. Turkish. Wore the breeches. Suppose she does? Would I like her in
pyjamas? Damned hard to answer. Nannetti’s gone. Mailboat. Near Holyhead by
now. Must nail that ad of Keyes’s. Work Hynes and Crawford. Petticoats for
Molly. She has something to put in them. What’s that? Might be money.</p>
<p>Mr Bloom stooped and turned over a piece of paper on the strand. He brought it
near his eyes and peered. Letter? No. Can’t read. Better go. Better. I’m tired
to move. Page of an old copybook. All those holes and pebbles. Who could count
them? Never know what you find. Bottle with story of a treasure in it, thrown
from a wreck. Parcels post. Children always want to throw things in the sea.
Trust? Bread cast on the waters. What’s this? Bit of stick.</p>
<p>O! Exhausted that female has me. Not so young now. Will she come here tomorrow?
Wait for her somewhere for ever. Must come back. Murderers do. Will I?</p>
<p>Mr Bloom with his stick gently vexed the thick sand at his foot. Write a
message for her. Might remain. What?</p>
<p>I.</p>
<p>Some flatfoot tramp on it in the morning. Useless. Washed away. Tide comes
here. Saw a pool near her foot. Bend, see my face there, dark mirror, breathe
on it, stirs. All these rocks with lines and scars and letters. O, those
transparent! Besides they don’t know. What is the meaning of that other world.
I called you naughty boy because I do not like.</p>
<p>AM. A.</p>
<p>No room. Let it go.</p>
<p>Mr Bloom effaced the letters with his slow boot. Hopeless thing sand. Nothing
grows in it. All fades. No fear of big vessels coming up here. Except
Guinness’s barges. Round the Kish in eighty days. Done half by design.</p>
<p>He flung his wooden pen away. The stick fell in silted sand, stuck. Now if you
were trying to do that for a week on end you couldn’t. Chance. We’ll never meet
again. But it was lovely. Goodbye, dear. Thanks. Made me feel so young.</p>
<p>Short snooze now if I had. Must be near nine. Liverpool boat long gone. Not
even the smoke. And she can do the other. Did too. And Belfast. I won’t go.
Race there, race back to Ennis. Let him. Just close my eyes a moment. Won’t
sleep, though. Half dream. It never comes the same. Bat again. No harm in him.
Just a few.</p>
<p>O sweety all your little girlwhite up I saw dirty bracegirdle made me do love
sticky we two naughty Grace darling she him half past the bed met him pike
hoses frillies for Raoul de perfume your wife black hair heave under embon
<i>señorita</i> young eyes Mulvey plump bubs me breadvan Winkle red slippers
she rusty sleep wander years of dreams return tail end Agendath swoony lovey
showed me her next year in drawers return next in her next her next.</p>
<p>A bat flew. Here. There. Here. Far in the grey a bell chimed. Mr Bloom with
open mouth, his left boot sanded sideways, leaned, breathed. Just for a few</p>
<p class="poem">
Cuckoo<br/>
Cuckoo<br/>
Cuckoo.</p>
<p>The clock on the mantelpiece in the priest’s house cooed where Canon O’Hanlon
and Father Conroy and the reverend John Hughes S. J. were taking tea and
sodabread and butter and fried mutton chops with catsup and talking about</p>
<p class="poem">
Cuckoo<br/>
Cuckoo<br/>
Cuckoo.</p>
<p>Because it was a little canarybird that came out of its little house to tell
the time that Gerty MacDowell noticed the time she was there because she was as
quick as anything about a thing like that, was Gerty MacDowell, and she noticed
at once that that foreign gentleman that was sitting on the rocks looking was</p>
<p class="poem">
Cuckoo<br/>
Cuckoo<br/>
Cuckoo.</p>
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