Dumpy Picks A Trade

excerpts …Dreary clothes I do not wish forworn-away I simply abhor!Speckless white – that strikes my fancyOnly white, nought left to chance – yeah:capwithout a speckand a frockwithout a loch. Not a chimney sweep – a doctor would I be,though at present I may falter,that is but a mere trifling –I'm not meant to stay a suckling! Pay attention! Clear the way:Doctor Dumpy spurts away! As he walks amidst the ill,he advises, knows the drill. Where is, pray thee, our good Peter?Nurse – produce the thermometer! Why is George in constant stir-ups,that he soughs and has the hiccups? And Corynna and Irenehave not had their aspirin! Heedful that: a tailor's breadhangeth daily by thread. Whilst shoemakers yield their aye,nailed hands – in black dismay. Where's a shepherd to be found –cannot spot him, oh – confound!Missed his flock and riverside,barefoot took he to a ride:to the railway see him stride… Yes, indeed, it seems this plyhas caught Dumpy's wakeful eye:helping, healing on my ownANYBODY: known, unknown. At my practice, I believe,will I be on days of leave,sending off aye-es-aye-pee:gents recovered rapidly,truant desk fiends – back to school,to comply with testing rule. Albeit sloth be a disease to be cured: not by me and without ease… …Schoolteacher! Amongst my dreams –quite uncommon – as it seems. As our master cometh inand a teacher, deep within,passing knowledge like a thunder –Lord, I never cease to wonder. Isn't he a miraclespeaking like an oracleand a fountain, good of answers… O, by George, what ought I doto be like this 'You-Know-Who'. From my desk, from where I situp to him: a tiny bit:Seven feet and tightly knit. But between us – such an abyss….such a distance to a fool's bliss. It takes toiling, school to school,taking in, from Yule to Yule,until bended, tiresome cheekfind its rest on Ancient Greek.Tineretului, 1964


by Marcel Breslaşu (1903-1966)