I Read

I hope I didn't startle you
Signora Ricci? I'm Captain Bachetti-
Bachetti. I know
My cousin has told me all about you
I came to thank you for the books
I would have sooner
But I've been so ill
Well, now you seem to be feeling more normal
Normal? I hardly think so
Sickness is normal to me as health is to you
Excuse me
I shouldn't speak of my troubles
I've been going through a period of deep melancholy

I so enjoyed the novel by Rousseau
Oh, it's wonderful. It's my favorite, really
The character of Julie is a great mystery
You should have kept the book longer to meditate over

I do not read to think. I do not read to learn
I do not read to search for truth
I know the truth, the truth is hardly what I need
I read to dream
I read to live.
In other people's lives
I read about the joys, the world
Dispenses to the fortunate
And listen for the echoes
I read to live
To get away from life!
No, captain, I have no illusions
I recognize the limits of my dreams
I know how painful dreams can be
Unless you know they're merely dreams
There is a flower which offers nectar at the top
Delicious nectar at the top and bitter poison underneath
The butterfly that stays too long and drinks too deep
Is doomed to die

I read to fly, to skim -
I do not read to swim
I do not dwell on dreams
I know how soon a dream becomes an expectation
How can I have expectations?
Look at me
No, captain, look at me -
Look at me!

I do not hope for what I cannot have!
I do not cling to things I cannot keep!
The more you cling to things, the more you love them
The more the pain you suffer when they're taken from you
Ah, but if you have no expectations, Captain
You can never have a disappointment

I must be mad to chatter on about myself like this to you
Forgive me
I assure you -
No, forgive me, please
But truly, there is nothing to forgive -
Have you explored the town?
It is remote, isn't it?
And provincial, don't you think?
Yes
And everything so brown
The streets, the fields, the river even
Though there are some lovely gardens
You do like gardens, I hope?
Yes
Good, I can show you gardens
And then of course there is the castle
The ruined castle
Ah
I find it lovely. Probably because it's ruined
I suppose
I didn't know there was a castle
I like to take excursions there -
When I'm in better health
Perhaps you'll join me and my cousin
One day
That would be delightful
I don't believe I've seen a flower or a garden since
The day I arrived