Britian, (1912-1990)
You’re Bringing Out the Swine in Me
- (Ulysses)
- You’re bringing out the swine in me
- By giving too much wine to me
- Though all your promises sound fine to me
- But Circe, I simply gotta go.
- (Circe)
- O won’t you stay and dine with me
- O honey stay in line with me
- Let’s drink our nectar in close harmony
- Don’t ever let me go.
- (Ulysses)
- You’re bringing out the swine in me
- And though you seem divine baby
- And all alone and fancy free
- Circe, I simply gotta go.
- (Circe)
- What’s eatin’ of you, hairy man?
- Come on take your pleasure while you can
- Come on and act the gentleman
- Honey, don’t ever let me go.
- (Ulysses)
- I must admit you pack a punch
- Your kisses baby, are the crunch
- It’s clear we won’t get up for lunch
- Circe, I simply can’t say no.
© Lawrence Durrell. Ulysses come back: outline-sketch of a musical based upon the last three love-affairs of Ulysses the Greek adventurer. London: Turret Books, (1970).
Why Wait?
- Primaeval Camargue horses under sail,
- Stealthy as wishes or as secret agents
- Curve under Roman monuments, vibrate,
- Appropriate to sky as water, sympathetic
- As ruins which insist in their serenity
- All time could be compressed
- Into one pellet of ample duration because
- The first step towards creation is to lose
- Complete confidence in oneself and sort of die.
- I know… I see you smile. Accelerate loving.
- Remit the old codger’s deathbed flutter. Try!
- Somehow copy the sweet conduct of these
- Young olives in the spring mistral a-quiver
- Silverside up with such panache and
- Colloquial astonishment in sunset poses.
- Join the great coven of real lovers, the
- Conspiracy of lovemates forged in debonnaire
- Realized couples like perfected machines
- Guided by love-placebos from the wise
- Only realize! Go on! Be wise!
- Yes but how?
- They are caressed by oncoming night
- With all their nightingales in lovely voice.
- And this surperb Roman lady asleep
- Has the whole pedigree of pure happiness
- Deltcate as young olives, their pigments,
- Loose-leaf in slumber in her smiles.
- One becomes sorry to become so soon
- Just luggage left like lumber,
- lust after-thoughts of inexcusable grace
- Posted up by a’ love-god’s outlandish looks,
- A love-seraphic smiling face.
- Did not the proverb say explicitly
- “Never try to whitewash a silk elephant”?
- And (beyond all where or why):
- “In yoga harness a whole reality with one soft sigh.”
- A vessel in full sail
- With a weird mystical rig
- Will tell you once and for all
- What the Greek proverb says is true:
- “Happiness is just a little scented pig.”
- It’s not enough but if will have to do.
© Lawrence Durrell. Caesar’s vast ghost: aspects of Provence. London: Faber and Faber (1990.).
About the Poet
Lawrence Durrell (1912-1990) was a novelist, poet, translator, travel writer, and dramatist. Born in India to British parents, Durrell lived in and celebrated the Mediterranean world. He is best known for the novels that comprise The Alexandria Quartet. [DES-11/10]