What Shall I Wear, Darling, to the Great Hunger?

What Shall I Wear, Darling, to the Great Hunger?

ABEI Journal — The Brazilian Journal of Irish Studies, v.22, n.2, 2020, pp. 58-59 What Shall I Wear, Darling, to The Great Hunger? Paul Durcan “What shall I wear, darling, to The Great Hunger?” She shrieked at me helplessly from the east bedroom Where the west wind does be blowing betimes. I did not hesitate to hazard a spontaneous response: “Your green evening gown – Your see-through, sleeveless, backless, green evening gown.” We arrived at the Peacock In good time for everybody to have a good gawk at her Before the curtain went up on The Great Hunger. At the interval everybody was clucking about, cooing That it was simply stunning – her dress – “Darling, you look like Mother Divinity in your see-through, Sleeveless, backless, green evening gown – it’s so visual!” At the party after the show – simply everybody was there – Winston Lenihan, Consolata O’Carroll-Riviera, Yves St. Kierkegaard – She was so busy being admired that she forgot to get drunk. But the next morning it was business as usual – Grey serge pants, blue donkey jacket – driving around Dolphin’s Barn In her Opel Kadett hatchback Checking up on the rents. “All these unmarried young mothers And their frogspawn, living on the welfare – You would think that it never occurred to them That it’s their rents that pay for the outfits I have to wear Whenever The Great Hunger is playing at the Peacock. No, it never occurs to them that in Ireland today It is not easy to be a landlord and a patron of the arts. It is not for nothing that we in Fail Gael have a social conscience: Either you pay the shagging rent or you get out on the street. Next week I have to attend three-a-half Great Hungers, Not to mention a half-dozen Juno and the Paycocks. ” 58 ISSN 1518-0581 | eISSN 2595-8127 | DOI 10.37389/abei.v22i2.180808 Copyright (c) 2020 Paul Durcan, Maria Yolanda Fernández-Suárez | Received: 03/03/2020 | Accepted: 10/03/2020 ABEI Journal — The Brazilian Journal of Irish Studies, v.22, n.2, 2020. Cariño, ¿qué me pongo para La Hambruna?1 Cariño, ¿qué me pongo para La Hambruna? Chilló desesperada desde el dormitorio este Donde a veces sí que sopla el viento del oeste No dudé en aventurar una respuesta espontánea: “El vestido de noche verde – El vestido de noche transparente, verde, sin mangas, con la espalda al aire.” Llegamos al teatro Peacock Con tiempo de sobra para que todos se la quedasen mirando embobados Antes de que subiera el telón de La Hambruna. En el entreacto todos cacareaban, decían con seductores arrullos Que era simplemente deslumbrante – el vestido – “Querida, te pareces a la Diosa Madre con el vestido de noche Transparente, verde, sin mangas y con la espalda al aire – ¡es tan gráfico!” En la fiesta tras la obra – sencillamente todo el mundo estaba allí. Winston Lenihan, Consolata O’Carroll-Riviera, Yves St. Kierkegaard. Era tal la admiración que causaba que olvidó emborracharse. Pero al día siguiente todo volvió a la normalidad Pantalones de sarga grises, chaquetón amplio de lana – por Dolphin’s Barn2 En el Opel Kadett con portón trasero Comprobando el pago de las rentas. “Todas estas madres solteras Y sus renacuajos, viviendo de los subsidios – Parece que jamás pensaron Que es su alquiler lo que paga los trajes que he de llevar Cuando ponen La Hambruna en el Peacock. No, jamás se les ocurre que en la Irlanda de hoy día No es fácil ser casero y patrón de las artes y las letras. Por algo nosotros los del Fail Gael3 tenemos conciencia social: “O pagas la jodida renta o te vas a la calle La semana que viene tengo que acudir a tres Grandes Hambrunas y media Por no mencionar media docena de Juno y el Pavo Real.”4 Translated by Mª Yolanda Fernández Suárez (Spain) 59.

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