Quand les Moutons moutonnaient

Les moutons moutonnants des nuages moutonnent,
Alors que les moutons moutonniers des prairies,
se sont pressés, bêlants, lorsqu'est tombée la pluie.
Cela n'empêcha pas le loup de se glisser,
dans le troupeau craintif des moutons moutonnants,
qui ont senti le loup et s'enfuient tous, transis.
Mais le loup court plus vite, attrapant des moutons.
Alors que le Berger et son chien le Patou, dorment encore leur soûl.
Mais l'orage s'accroît, gâchant ainsi,
le sommeil du Berger et celui du Patou.
Mais soudain, le Berger n'a plus sommeil du tout.
Voyant son troupeau fuir, poursuivi par le Loup.
Tandis que le Patou aboie : « Au loup ! Au loup ! »
Le vent se lève enfin, amenant les nuages,
moutonner bien plus **** que dessus la prairie.
Si bien que le Patou poussif course le loup.
Alors que le Berger se saisit d'un fusil.
Mais tire de trop **** en blessant un mouton surpris.
Alors que les moutons s'égayent de partout.
Le Patou, voit le Loup, l’aboie comme un garou,
et sans y réfléchir va, courir sus, au Loup.
Mais le loup noir s’apeure, revient dans le troupeau.
Pour mieux se protéger d'un coup de chassepot.
Et des dents du Patou, bien qu’il soit, si pataud.
Le berger finit par toucher un mouton, au mollet.
Ainsi, le troupeau effrayé ne sait même plus bêler,
et sait encore moins qu'avant, à qui se fier.
C'est alors que Patou, voit le Loup de plus près,
et trouve préférable de prendre ses quartiers,
non sans avoir mordu le jarret d’un mouton qui geignait.
Tandis que le Berger, aveuglé de nuit noire,
ne sait plus distinguer, le loup noir, d'une poire.
C'est peut-être pour cela qu'il tire encore un coup.
Sur un autre mouton qui attrape les plombs.
Monsieur de La Fontaine en toute seigneurie,
aurait conclu l’histoire par une raillerie.
Alors qu'il convient mieux se contenter d'y voir,
la raison du plus fou qui s'est joué de nous.
Mais moi, l’écrivailleur, qui aime tant les chiens,
je vous dis, qu'il vaut mieux protéger les moutons,
en préférant l’enclos, aux fusils, aux Patou.
Et tant, qu'avoir un chien, autant prendre un toutou.
Qui laissera les loups mais jouera avec vous.

Paul Arrighi

april 11 1952 Mom gives birth to beautiful blue-eyed girl Mom takes name Penelope from Great-Grandma Penny who died week after Odysseus was born Mom and Dad are not educated to know greek mythology and homer it is odd coincidence they picked Odysseus’s name out of book of names thought it sounded strong  anglo old money Odysseus is thrilled to have sister to share childhood with when Odysseus is 6 and Penelope is 4 Grandma Betty invites them to visit her house block away she serves them oatmeal cookies orange juice shows them her latest small painting of field brightly colored flowers birds in sky lower left corner is horse or dog painting is still wet she shows them magazine picture she copied from Odysseus realizes it is pony in lower left corner when they return home Mom yells at Odysseus “where were you? why didn’t you think to call or leave message with Teresa? do you have any idea what a nervous wreck you’ve made me!” she slaps hard Odysseus’s face reprimands “don’t i have enough to worry about without you pulling something like this? you only think about yourself it’s so typical of your selfishness wait until your father gets home he’ll deal with you now go to your room!" every time he gets caught in mistake he is punished the drill is Mom gets upset with Odysseus flies into rage yells slaps him around threatens him with Dad gets home has a few drinks Mom tells Dad explodes beats Odysseus Mom is judge jury Dad is executioner afterward Dad goes back into living room pours another drink sits in celadon green lounge chair Odysseus is trained to wipe tears put on pajamas go to Dad apologize admit fault promise to be good kisses Dad and Mom goodnight goes to bed that is the drill

Odysseus is barefaced curious exploring discovering tries to connect with Mom and Dad but they are unavailable they are his parents not his friends as far back as he can remember he lives in world of “it’s safe free here Mom and Dad can’t see us” children are smarter than parents think figure ways to self-protect something stirs inside Odysseus creature separate from Dad and Mom whatever psychological or emotional patterns are developing he does not understand obediently goes along

Mom and Granny Mattie take Odysseus and Penelope to browse shops on oak street at one store little statuette like kind Granny Mattie collects catches Odtsseus’s eye he slips it in pocket on drive home he takes statuette out to show Penelope she asks where he got it Mom Granny Mattie overhear ask Odysseus where he got statuette he confesses took it from store Mom gets livid steers car back to oak street Granny Mattie insists “it’s just a figurine let him keep it Odysseus meant no harm i don’t see why you want to make such a big fuss Jenny!” Mom replies “he’s got to learn right from wrong!” they all return to store mom explains to sales clerk what son has done Odysseus hands back figurine apologizes when Dad gets home he dishes out punishment years later Penelope remarks “that was the first time i realized Odys you needed to reach out for something beyond the family”

Odysseus wants to die he is 7 years old and wants to die he knows his life is critically messed up wants new different existence person he is becoming is too error prone ruined already he is way too ******* himself Dad’s temper Mom’s criticisms subsequent self-absorbed social demands drive him to ideas of suicide Dad and Mom are too busy to notice Mom always uses sleeping pills placidal nebutal seconal miltown whatever is the latest Mom says she does not dream Odysseus guesses she does not remember her dreams on account of those pills everyone dreams years later Mom remarks i need sleeping pills to forget about you Odys as Mom describes “i run a formal beautiful household” she delegates chores to weekly staff of brown skin ladies it is house of feminine décor matching pillows sheets pulled tight under elegant bedspreads everything put away in proper place furniture in precise order little dinner bell servant’s foot buzzer beneath Mom’s chair at dining room table maids in servitude once a week white woman with big shoulders foreign accent shows up to give Mom massage Mom is not to be disturbed during that hour Odysseus knows first names of each laundress cleaning lady doormen deskmen garage men janitors caterers at holidays tall black effeminate John comes twice a month on sunday to cook serve traditional american breakfast along with fried bananas apples afterward he cleans up shines silver first 13 years of Odysseus’s life are lived in buildings with elevators staff of residence employees

Mom’s closet is vast with colors textures ground level hundred or more neatly arranged clear plastic boxes containing pairs of expensive shoes walls of imported French and Italian designer label dresses skirts suits blouses top shelf fashionable purses hats other feminine accoutrements also two large dresser chests filled with drawers of sweaters scarves girdles lingerie hosiery more accessories Mom often wears joy by jean patou arpege by lanvin chanel # 5 Mom shops at saks bonwit teller occasionally marshall fields within several years most of her buying will be done at fantastico, exclusive import boutique on oak street clothes jewelry cosmetics are important to her but most important is hair she prefers bottle blonde color wears hair trimmed medium length fluffed up sprayed fixed as do many women of her generation social stature she visits beauty salon twice a week must enjoy letting her guard down with other women while being served by homosexual men her hair prevents her from driving in car with top down all other outdoor activities that might threaten hairdo Penelope mimics Mom though she keeps her things in less tidy fashion she is being groomed to be queen like mom maybe Mom is more sympathetic to Penelope because both innately share female experience Mom portrays herself as lady of elegance Penelope is different from Mom more earthy bumbling routinely scratches Odysseus’s records leaves her drawers messy Mom takes baths so her hair will not be disturbed Dad takes showers Odysseus and Penelope take baths together then apart as they grow bigger ****** is normal in Schwartzpilgrim household Dad hints reserve Odysseus follows takes showers Mom leaves bathroom door open while bathing she is constantly changing clothes traipsing around in robes slippers elegant silk lingerie

La casa, junto al río.
Alegre el saloncito. La ventana
Sobre el jardín. Aromas. Luz. Estío,
Aves en el azul de la mañana.

Copiado en grande espejo, se columbra
El tocador de mármol de la alcoba
Que un claro sol alumbra;
Y en la negra caoba

Del luciente piano
Yergue su aristocracia,
Colocado con gracia,
Ramo de rosas del jardín cercano.

Y salida del baño, en amplia bata
Que el seno mal recata,
Yace tendida en el sofá, fumando
Un cigarrillo y otro, y viendo el humo
Subir en espirales.
Yo, imitando
Su inocente placer, pues también fumo.

-¿Y qué piensas hacer? ¿Salir? Supongo
Que saldrás, pues no creo
Que hoy al «Bosque» no vayas de paseo.
Y pensando estarás: «¿Y qué me pongo?
¿Qué sombrero? ¿Qué traje? ¿Y qué sombrilla
Llevaré? ¿Blanca o de color de rosa?»
Y dirás cual la cosa más sencilla:
«¡Bah! Si todo me queda a maravilla»,
Porque eso sí... Cual nadie vanidosa.

¿Sonríes? Cuántos al pasar tu talle
Y tu cara, entre arrobos,
Como si fueran bobos
Se quedarán mirándote en la calle!
¿Y una cita no tienes? Di, responde.
¿Cita con quién? ¿Y en dónde?
Si quieres ir a Armenonville, pidamos
Una mesa. ¿No quieres?
¿O a «Perroquet» prefieres
Ir esta noche? ¿Vamos o no vamos?
¿O más bien a «Florida»
Para ver a la Nasch, como albayalde,
Y flaca siempre, y siempre bien vestida
Por Lelong o Patou, pero de balde
Cual «reclame» de sus casas de costura?

No fumes más. No insistas. Te hace daño.
¿Cambiaste la montura
Del anillo? ¿A Deauville no vas este año?
Una pregunta, nada más, loquilla:
Para verte los ojos, frente a frente,
Acercaré la silla:
La mirada, ¿no sabes?, nunca miente.

No son celos. Te digo
Que no son celos; pero aquel amigo

Con quien te vi en el Bitz.... te lo aseguro,
Sí, no son celos, no lo son. Te juro
Que celoso no soy... Mas tienes suelto
El brazalete... Dime con franqueza,
Con franqueza, ¿a salir con él no has vuelto?
Apoya sobre mi hombro la cabeza;
Mas no cierres los ojos, oye, mira;
Dime que todo, todo fue mentira,
Que, nunca has sido loca,
Y nunca lo serás para engañarme,
Y vivirás, y vives, para amarme....
Mas dilo con el alma entre la boca,
Dímelo pronto, pronto....
¿No oyes? ¿Estás dormida?
                                          -«Tonto, tonto!
Qué tonto eres así,
Imitando Toi et moi de Géraldy».