(no subject)
Wystan Hugh Auden to Chester Kallman
Christmas Day, 1941
Dearest Chester,
Because it is in you, a Jew, that I, a Gentile, inheriting an O-so-
genteel anti-semitism, have found my happiness:
As this morning I think of Bethlehem, I think of you.
Because it is you, from Brooklyn, who have taught me, from Oxford,
how the most liberal young man can assume that his money and his
education ought to be able to buy love;
As this morning I think of the inn stable, I think of you.
Because, suffering on your account the torments of sexual jealousy,
I have had a glimpse of the infinite vileness of masculine conceit;
As this morning I think of Joseph, I think of you.
Because mothers have much to do with your queerness and mine,
because we have both lost ours, and because Mary is a camp name;
As this morning I think of Mary, I think of you.
Because the necessarily serious relation of a child to its parents is the symbol, pattern, and warning of any serious love that may later depend upon its choice, because you are to me, emotionally a mother, physically a father, and intellectually a son;
As this morning I think of the Holy Family, I think of you.
Because, on account of you, I have been, in intention, and almost in act, a murderer;
As this morning I think of Herod, I think of you.
Because even les matelots et les morceaux de commerce instinctively pay you hommage;
As this morning I think of the shepherds, I think of you.
Because I believe in your creative gift, and because I rely absolutely upon your critical judgement,
As this morning I think of the Magi, I think of you.
Because you alone know the full extent of my human weakness, and because I think I know yours, because of my resentment against being small and your resentment against having a spinal curvature, and because with my body I worship yours;
As this morning I think of the Manhood, I think of you.
Because it is through you that God has chosen to show me my beatitude,
As this morning I think of the Godhead, I think of you.
Because in the eyes of our bohemian friends our relationship is absurd;
As this morning I think of the Paradox of the Incarnation, I think of you.
Because, although our love, beginning Hans Andersen, became Grimm, and there are probably even grimmer tests to come, nevertheless I believe that if only we have faith in God and in each other, we shall be permitted to realize all that love is intended to be;
As this morning I think of the Good Friday and the Easter Sunday
already implicit in Christmas Day, I think of you.
(разбор стихотворения)
Christmas Day, 1941
Dearest Chester,
Because it is in you, a Jew, that I, a Gentile, inheriting an O-so-
genteel anti-semitism, have found my happiness:
As this morning I think of Bethlehem, I think of you.
Because it is you, from Brooklyn, who have taught me, from Oxford,
how the most liberal young man can assume that his money and his
education ought to be able to buy love;
As this morning I think of the inn stable, I think of you.
Because, suffering on your account the torments of sexual jealousy,
I have had a glimpse of the infinite vileness of masculine conceit;
As this morning I think of Joseph, I think of you.
Because mothers have much to do with your queerness and mine,
because we have both lost ours, and because Mary is a camp name;
As this morning I think of Mary, I think of you.
Because the necessarily serious relation of a child to its parents is the symbol, pattern, and warning of any serious love that may later depend upon its choice, because you are to me, emotionally a mother, physically a father, and intellectually a son;
As this morning I think of the Holy Family, I think of you.
Because, on account of you, I have been, in intention, and almost in act, a murderer;
As this morning I think of Herod, I think of you.
Because even les matelots et les morceaux de commerce instinctively pay you hommage;
As this morning I think of the shepherds, I think of you.
Because I believe in your creative gift, and because I rely absolutely upon your critical judgement,
As this morning I think of the Magi, I think of you.
Because you alone know the full extent of my human weakness, and because I think I know yours, because of my resentment against being small and your resentment against having a spinal curvature, and because with my body I worship yours;
As this morning I think of the Manhood, I think of you.
Because it is through you that God has chosen to show me my beatitude,
As this morning I think of the Godhead, I think of you.
Because in the eyes of our bohemian friends our relationship is absurd;
As this morning I think of the Paradox of the Incarnation, I think of you.
Because, although our love, beginning Hans Andersen, became Grimm, and there are probably even grimmer tests to come, nevertheless I believe that if only we have faith in God and in each other, we shall be permitted to realize all that love is intended to be;
As this morning I think of the Good Friday and the Easter Sunday
already implicit in Christmas Day, I think of you.
(разбор стихотворения)