ИМПЕРАТОР МОРОЖЕНОГО
Зови крутильщика толстых сигар,
Того, мускулистого. Взбивает пусть сладострастья
Желтки на кухне в чашах конических.
Девахам дай поглазеть, пускай потолкутся
В простой, не воскресной одежде. Пусть парни ей
Цветы принесут в газетах чья «правда» несвежая.
"Cейчас" - уход от условностeй, финал возможного.
Один тут король - император мороженого.
Бери из её комода (три стеклянные ручки затеряны)
Вон ту простыню - павлинчатых голубей
По краю она вышивала когда-то.
И натяни чтобы закрыть ей лицо.
Коль вылезут ступни (все в мозолях)- уже не помеха
Протянуты к нам чтобы знали, как она холодна и тихА.
Направь-ка лампу... она не прервёт её сна нетревожного.
Один тут король - император мороженого.
Wallace Stevens
The Emperor of Ice-Cream
Call the roller of big cigars,
The muscular one, and bid him whip
In kitchen cups concupiscent curds.
Let the wenches dawdle in such dress
As they are used to wear, and let the boys
Bring flowers in last month's newspapers.
Let be be finale of seem.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.
Take from the dresser of deal.
Lacking the three glass knobs, that sheet
On which she embroidered fantails* once
And spread it so as to cover her face.
If her horny feet protrude, they come
To show how cold she is, and dumb.
Let the lamp affix its beam.
The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.
* The anthology has a citation that explains that "fantails" are fantail pigeons (those with large spread out tails, like a peacock). A fantail pigeon is a big white pigeon with a tail that looks a bit like ballerina's skirt. A white dove, of course, is a symbol of the Holy Spirit in Christianity. So maybe the lady embroidering these pigeons was trying to elevate herself above the rather hum-drum existence.
However, did Stevens know that ice cream is not made from curds? (what yogurt is made from). Ice cream is made from sugar, egg yolks, and heavy cream. Did he call the clumps of ice cream - curds? or just made a poetical slip up with these "curds" - only Stevens knows.