Welsh Journals

the Royal. What was it that enabled a man, and a corpulent man at that, incongruously dressed in a seaman's blue canvas trousers, to be accepted without a snigger or even one glance of suspicion in any of Bute Street's toughest joints. And now, right here in these lush surroundings, not one eyebrow was so much as raised with the faintest hint of disapproval. I watched Kosco carefully, what was it that made him stand out in a crowd? at that moment a well-known television sporting personality, complete with sporting moustache, sporting tweeds, and not so sporting brief-case, passed where we were standing, and in a loud sporting voice, said very patronisingly- Hello Kosco! I read your little thing in the paper, Sunday'. Kosco accepted the great man's platitude with a smile. I think it was then I discovered something of the secret to Kosco's personality. It was nearing midnight when the train for London pulled out from Cardiff's Central Station. I stood on the platform watching Kosco waving goodbye. When once again in my memory I could see the sisters standing on their Bute Street doorstep, waving as we walked away-and once again I could hear- 'Sir! You look like the Cap'n of the Queen Mary.' No, I said to myself- never a captain. Captains are too aloof. 'So long!' I shouted at the top of my voice. 'So long! Chief Petty Officer Kosco Ross EL DESDICHADO: GERARD DE NERVAL I am the dark One-alone-uncomforted, A Prince in a ruined tower buffeted. My single star is out, and my emblazoned lyre Bears the Black Sun of Gloom-a chilling fire. In this shadow of death, you, who once comforted me, Bring me Pausilippus and the Italian sea Put the one pleasing flower near my chill heart; Say again the wine and the rose need no longer part Well, am I Love, or Phoebus? Lusignan? Biron? My mouth is red once more with the kisses of a queen; I have dreamed in the cave where the syren's birth was seen. Twice I, the Victor, have leapt Acheron, Playing on Orpheus' lute fine sounds like sighs Of the dead saint, or the fierce fairy's cries translated by Derek Parker