<T PRUFROCK AND OTHER OBSERVATIONS 1917><P 0>
FOR JEAN VERDENAL, 1889-1915
MORT AUX DARDENELLES
#OR PUOI LA QUANTITATE
COMPRENDER DELL'AMOR CH'A TE MI SCALDA,
QUANDO DISMENTO NOSTRA VANITATE,
TRATTANDO L'OMBRE COME COSA SALDA.#
<P 1><L 0>
THE LOVE SONG OF J& ALFRED PRUFROCK
((#S'IO CREDESSI CHE MIA RIPOSTA FOSSE
A PERSONA CHE MAI TORNASSE AL MONDO,
QUESTA FIAMMA STARIA SENZA PI*U SCOSSE.
MA PER CI*O CHE GIAMMAI DI QUESTO FONDO
NON TORN*O VIVO ALCUN, S'I'ODO IL VERO,
SENZA TEMA D'INFAMIA TI RISPONDO.#))
LET US GO THEN, YOU AND I,
WHEN THE EVENING IS SPREAD OUT AGAINST THE SKY
LIKE A PATIENT ETHERISED UPON A TABLE;
LET US GO, THROUGH CERTAIN HALF-DESERTED STREETS,
THE MUTTERING RETREATS
OF RESTLESS NIGHTS IN ONE-NIGHT CHEAP HOTELS
AND SAWDUST RESTAURANTS WITH OYSTER-SHELLS:
STREETS THAT FOLLOW LIKE A TEDIOUS ARGUMENT
OF INSIDIOUS INTENT
TO LEAD YOU TO AN OVERWHELMING QUESTION ...
OH, DO NOT ASK, %WHAT IS IT?%
LET US GO AND MAKE OUR VISIT.
IN THE ROOM THE WOMEN COME AND GO
TALKING OF MICH . . .
