Vol. 55 No. 2 1988 - page 144

190
PARTISAN REVIEW
will explain this to you also : Short while before we reach city ofAlex–
andria. I have one big row with God. Both of us screaming at each
other half the night there on the deck. Maybe we overdo it. What
does He want from me? That I should be his little
zhid.
And that's
all. Whereas I for my part, I want to be one great swine. And so we
quarrel , until comes the night watchman and kicks both of us off that
.deck in middle of the night. That is how He loses me and I lose Him.
Such a secondhand, grumpy, sour God. So. He stayed up there all
alone like a dog muttering in his mustache, and I stay down here,
one swine among swines . And so we part. And what do I do?
Na,
tell me what I do with the gift of life? What do I spend it on?
Why do I sully it? I smash teeth , I cheat , I steal , and, above all, I
hoist up skirts. Filthy swine in every way. And now , begging your
pardon, dear lady, it is not quite clear to me why you deigned to
come and see me today. Are you sent by Binyomin? He has been
horribly punished. And who by? By the fair sex! Only because he
was such a nonswine . They broke his heart as their pleasure but they
did not let him beat a path to their bodies . Even before the shadow of
a touch he would faint with embarrassment. So much he suffered
that his pure soul departed. And by means of my own revolver! Is
madame maybe familiar with the location of the city of Simferopol?
There was a terrible battle there. The boys were dying like flies . And
who does not die loses God. Does not know what is up and what is
down. Gives up God for the sake of women's love, but women they
do not find. Women in the Land ofIsrael are rare then. Perhaps five
or six between Rosh Pina and Kastina. Perhaps ten , if you count
Baba Yagas . But a
barishnya-not
to be found. The boys, after the
discussions, they lie down to each one on his mattress and they dream
of brothel of Odessa. And this because God tricks us. He never
comes to Ottoman Asia. He stays behind in attic of synagogue in
Shirky , lying there and waiting that Messiah should come. In Land
of Israel there is no God and there is no love of women. So
everybody gets screwed up. And those that go under bridal canopy?
Well, of course, in the morning- behold it is Leah. They are ringing
the village bells again far away in the distance . Soon it will start to
snow, and we will ride on our way. Can the good lady understand
me? Can she pardon me? Forgive me? She is alone and I am alone in
that field , and she hoists up her skirts and with her little finger she
beckons to me and I lay my hands on her. Therefore I am smuggled
to Zion . I am first Jew to extract honey frqm bees . First, since Bible
times. Malaria passes me over and I hoist up skirts, like a demon! I
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