
Stately,
Plump buck mulligan came from the stairs,
Bearing a bowl of lather ;
A mirror and a razor lay crossed .
A yellow dressinggown, halfdoffed
Gently behind him : the mild morning air .
The bowl aloft, he intoned :
— Introibo ad altare dei .
Coarsely he called up | down the dark winding stones :
— Come up, kinch ! You fearful jesuit, come pray .
Solemnly forward, mounting the gunrest round,
He blessed gravely thrice :
The tower, surrounding country, awaking mounts .
Catching sight of stephen dedalus ;
Bent, he made rapid crosses in the air,
Gurgling his throat, shaking his reason .
Dedalus, displeased and sleepy, leaned
Arms on the top of the staircase, looked
Coldly ; the shaking gurgling face, blessing—
Equine length, untonsured hair :
Pale oak .
Mulligan peeped under the mirror, a stroke ;
Covered the bowl smartly .
— Back to barracks ! Sternly .
[ Priestly ] :
— For this, o dearly beloved ; the genuine
Christine : body and soul and blood and ouns .
Slow music, please. Shut your eyes, gents .
One moment .
A little trouble about those corpuscles ashen .
Silence, all .

* [ Paraphrased from : “ Ulysses ” —James Joyce ]
*[ WSB ].
