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Nine adulteries, 12 liaisons, 64 fornications and something approaching a rape



Here you can see the hotel Grand Chancellor, a flash, if somewhat overrated (in my opinion) boarding house by the water in Hobart. Short of inspiration, I thought that I'd dig out another old poem.

By and large, I'm not a huge fan of Ezra Pound's work, but when you have such a ripping opening line, you just have to like the one!

The Temperaments
Ezra Pound

Nine adulteries, 12 liaisons, 64 fornications and something approaching a rape
Rest nightly upon the soul of our delicate friend Florialis,
And yet the man is so quiet and reserved in demeanour
That he passes for both bloodless and sexless.
Bastidides, on the contrary, who both talks and writes of nothing save
copulation,
Has become the father of twins,
But he accomplished this feat at some cost;
He had to be four times cuckold.

Comments

Recognized Ezra right off the top - and really, the picture is a peaceful balance to the poem.
Julie said…
For a mad man, Pound was most insightful!
Sally said…
Never mind, there is rest. No need to let even death spoil your travel plans
Sydney Daily Photo

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