After Swann, 21-25
21
these dreams
stop like a clock
a malady
too irresistible
precisely the same
a gothic dovecot, or some other
she might have a red
principle
a certain type of femininity
her subjection
fixed in
space
oh, marvelous
the tombs
of sunlight straying
impossible for me
the vagrancy
of her
detachment
that face
deliberately unfinished
present except
in a flood of blue light
that current
we imagine
almost ours
that sort of tenderness
the instant of pain
the special pleasure
and seize
the mysterious object
still alive
buried in a couch of grass
22
we had prolonged
abandon
a little more thorough
that special pleasure
that luminosity, something
a sort of rind
which had not existed
a sort of intoxication
three maidens
nothing more
charming and resigned
so vanishing
a sense of happiness
as though
a series of joyous afternoons
should be
a bird flying across the pink
lost upon
emotion
already lying
morning leaning
into the garden
certain periods
of a fever
I could no longer
picture
the little incidents
among the grass
or unheeding air
as the face of
a petitioner
plundering along the hedge
no echo
transported into the present
flowering isle
roaming along them
23
seized
even fairer
that anguish
far more beautiful
a blemish
as all the rest
binds me
hawthorns in blossom
no more than
an attachment
lacking
for me alone
those impressions
invisible and persistent
easier, often,
to attain
streaks of colour
reconstructed
or
would have
discarded
mirrors
mistaken for daylight
the writing-table
fixed
at full speed
the well of
a moment
all those other dwellings
whirlpool
put to flight
window-curtains
of day
24
one condition sufficed
failed to
more rebellious
more reluctant
orthodoxy
this demon of frivolity
female sex
old doorkeeper
the evening's entertainment
figurative accounts of her emotions
kindled again
the little ‘nucleus,’
liable, now, and
such a charming
question
as if
perfection
so ardent a lover
a letter of credit
some obscure
daughter
his fancy
the sight of any fair unknown
diminish
the pleasures
offered
those mediocre distractions
enclosed there
beautiful and charming
distinctly ‘common’
a woman's
abundant, rosy human
abdication
25
whatever a woman
might appear
accumulation of her desire
squandered
by telegraph
a crust of bread
it was too late
an element of
idleness, and
consolation
attained
a woman in a train
the brilliant phalanx
so much cynicism
panders
the clumsiest indiscretion
the unconscious spirit of
refusal
is this mystery?
the other's face
had been intimate
her kitchen
in his hand
he would return to it
the particular orbit
tempered with
one or other
women of his circle
weary
and warmly coloured
flirtations
sight of a face
more or less complete
a ravishing creature
an understanding
aroused