On James Joyce
Have in mind today a brief poem that Joyce inserted towards the end of his semi-autobiographical novel A Portrait of the Artist of a Young Man. I think it captures the feeling of unrequited love.
One of my grad-school classmates said this novel is really about whether or not to join the priesthood. Joyce decided against it and chose marriage overseas, fictional writing, and a bohemian lifestyle instead.
Here is the poem the main character writes for a woman he is interested in:
“The Temptress” by James Joyce
Lure of the fallen seraphim?
Tell no more of enchanted days.
Your eyes have set man’s heart ablaze
And you have had your will of him.
Are you not weary of ardent ways?
Above the flame the smoke of praise
Goes up from ocean rim to rim.
Our broken cries and mournful lays
Rise in one eucharistic hymn.
Are you not weary of ardent ways?
While sacrificing hands upraise
The chalice flowing to the brim,
Tell no more of enchanted days.
With languorous look and lavish limb!
Are you not weary of ardent ways?
Tell no more of enchanted days.