Man Lying on the Wall

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Original:

Author: L.S. Lowry
Man Lying on the Wall. 1957

Původně jsem zamýšlela vyfotit tento obraz venku. Nedaleko Oliverovy školy je cihlová zeď, celá pomalovaná graffiti, za ní sice není Big Ben, ale věž Hydrometeorologického ústavu, ale ten den byla hrozná mlha a zima, že jsme nakonec doma s Oliverem zaimprovizovali:)

The ekphrastic response by Michael Longley:

"Man Lying on a Wall"

Homage to L.S. Lowry

You could draw a straight line from the heels,

Through the calves, buttocks and shoulderblades

To the back of the head: pressure points

That bear the enormous weight of the sky.

Should you take away the supporting structure

The result would be a miracle or

An extremely clever conjuring trick.

As it is, the man lying on the wall

Is wearing the serious expression

Of popes and kings in their final slumber,

His deportment not dissimilar to

Their stiff, reluctant exits from this world

Above the shoulders of the multitude.

It is difficult to judge whether or not

He is sleeping or merely disinclined

To arrive punctually at the office

Or to return home in time for his tea.

He is wearing a pinstripe suit, black shoes

And a bowler hat: on the pavement

Below him, like a relic or something

He is trying to forget, his briefcase

With everybody's initials on it.