Bloomsday: [an Interpretation of James Joyce's 'Ulysses'] Book

Reading Selection:

This Is The Time of Tension

This is the time of tension between dying and birth
The place of solitude where the dreams cross
Between the blue rocks
But when the voices shaken from the yew tree drift away
Let the other yew be shaken and reply.
Blessed sister, holy mother, spirit of the fountain, spirit of the garden,
Suffer us not to mock ourselves with falsehood
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still
Even among these rocks,
Our peace in His will
And even among these rocks
Sister, mother
And spirit of the river, spirit of the sea,
Suffer me not to be separated

And let my cry come unto Thee.

From TS Eliot, Ash Wednesday, 1930