children but the ones he can talk to here in the Fever Hospital. He says,
Heres the book, Frankie. Isnt it a great pity you have to be reading all
about England after all they did to us, that there isnt a history of Ire-
land to be had in this hospital.
The book tells me all about King Alfred and William the Con-
queror and all the kings and queens down to Edward, who had to wait
forever for his mother,Victoria, to die before he could be king. The
book has the first bit of Shakespeare I ever read.
I do believe, induced by potent circumstances
That thou art mine enemy.
The history writer says this is what Catherine, who is a wife of
Henry the Eighth, says to Cardinal Wolsey, who is trying to have her
head cut off. I dont know what it means and I dont care because its
Shakespeare and its like having jewels in my mouth when I say the
words. If I had a whole book of Shakespeare they could keep me in the
hospital for a year.
Patricia says she doesnt know what induced means or potent cir-
cumstances and she doesnt care about Shakespeare, she has her poetry
book and she reads to me from beyond the wall a poem about an owl
and a pussycat that went to sea in a green boat with honey and money
and it makes no sense and when I say that Patricia gets huffy and says
thats the last poem shell ever read to me. She says Im always reciting
the lines from Shakespeare and they make no sense either. Seamus stops
mopping again and tells us we shouldnt be fighting over poetry because
well have enough to fight about when we grow up and get married.
Patricia says shes sorry and Im sorry too so she reads me part of
another poem which I have to remember so I can say it back to her
early in the morning or late at night when there are no nuns or nurses
about,
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding
Riding riding
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
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