James Joyce born February 2, 1882

a long the

closing sentence fragment from Finnegans Wake, which, when formed with the opening sentence fragment, completes the thought and invites us, after finishing this book of life, history, cycles and renewals, to cycle through it again.

Finnegans Wake is a difficult read, but a rewarding one to those who undertake it.

The theme throughout is cycles, renewals and recurrences. In some ways it is more of a poem than a novel in that the theme is carried by not so much by a constructed plot but by the use of language alone.

any more than that, and I'd start running in circles, cartoon steam shooting out of my ears.

You are the master of keeping up with the birthdays of the greats. Joyce is in my pantheon, and I thank you for this commemoration.

by James Joyce

Chapter 1

Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming
down along the road and this moocow that was coming down along the road
met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo

His father told him that story: his father looked at him through a
glass: he had a hairy face.

He was baby tuckoo. The moocow came down the road where Betty Byrne
lived: she sold lemon platt.

O, the wild rose blossoms
On the little green place.

He sang that song. That was his song.

O, the green wothe botheth.

When you wet the bed first it is warm then it gets cold. His mother put
on the oilsheet. That had the queer smell.

His mother had a nicer smell than his father. She played on the piano
the sailor's hornpipe for him to dance. He danced:

Tralala lala,
Tralala tralaladdy,
Tralala lala,
Tralala lala.

Uncle Charles and Dante clapped. They were older than his father and
mother but uncle Charles was older than Dante.

Dante had two brushes in her press. The brush with the maroon velvet
back was for Michael Davitt and the brush with the green velvet back
was for Parnell. Dante gave him a cachou every time he brought her a

piece of tissue paper.

The Vances lived in number seven. They had a different father and
mother. They were Eileen's father and mother. When they were grown up
he was going to marry Eileen. He hid under the table. His mother said:

--O, Stephen will apologize.

Dante said:

--O, if not, the eagles will come and pull out his eyes.--


Pull out his eyes,
Apologize,
Apologize,
Pull out his eyes.
Apologize,
Pull out his eyes,
Pull out his eyes,
Apologize.

snip

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