W H Auden - James Honeyman lyrics

James Honeyman was a silent child He didn't laugh or cry; He looked at his mother With curiosity. Mother came up to the nursery, Peeped through the open door, Saw him striking matches Sitting on the nursery floor. He went to the children's party, The buns were full of cream; Sat there dissolving sugar In his teacup in a dream. #On his eighth birthday Didn't care that the day was wet For by his bedside Lay a ten-shilling chemistry set. Teacher said: "James Honeyman's The cleverest boy we've had, But he doesn't play with the others, And that, I think, is sad." While the other boys played football He worked in the laboratory Got a scholarship to college, And a first-cla** degree. Kept awake with black coffee, Took to wearing gla**es, Writing a thesis On the toxic gases. Went out into the country, Went by a Green Line Bus, Walked on the Chilterns, Thought about Phosphorus. Said: "Lewisite in its day Was pretty decent stuff, But under modern conditions It's not nearly strong enough." His Tutor sipped his port, Said: "I think it's clear That young James Honeyman's The most brilliant man of the year." He got a job in research With Imperial Alkali, Said to himself while shaving: "I'll be famous before I die." His landlady said: "Mr Honeyman, You've only got one life, You ought to have some fun, Sir. You ought to find a wife." At Imperial Alkali There was a girl called Doreen, One day she cut her finger, Asked him for iodine. "I'm feeling faint" she said. He led her to a chair, Fetched her a gla** of water, Wanted to stroke her hair. They took a villa on the Great West Road, Painted green and white; On her left a United Dairy A cinema on their right. At the bottom of the garden He built a little shed. "He's going to blow us up", All the neighbours said. Doreen called down at midnight: "Jim dear, it's time for bed." "I'll finish my experiment And then I'll come," he said. Caught influenza at Christmas, The Doctor said: "Go to bed." "I'll finish my experiment, And then I'll go," he said. Walked out on Sundays, Helped to push the pram, Said, "I'm looking for a gas, dear, A whiff will k** a man. "I'm going to find it, That's what I'm going to do." Doreen squeezed his hand and said: "Jim, I believe in you." In the hot nights of summer When roses all were red James Honeyman was working In his little garden shed. Came upstairs at midnight, Kissed his sleeping son, Held up a sealed gla** test-tube, Said: "Look, Doreen, I've won!" They stood together by the window, The moon was bright and clear. He said: "At last I've done something That's worthy of you, dear." Took a train next morning, Went up to Whitehall With the phial in his pocket To show it to them all. Sent in his card, The officials only swore: "Tell him we're very busy And show him to the door." Doreen sad to the neighbours: "isn't it a shame? My husband's so clever And they didn't know his name." One neighbour was sympathetic, her name was Mrs Flower She was the agent Of a Foreign Power. One evening they sat at supper, There came a gentle knock: "A gentleman to see Mr Honeyman." He stayed till eleven o'clock. They walked down the garden together, Down to the little shed: "We'll see you, then, in Paris. Good night," the gentleman said. The boat was nearing Dover, He looked back at Calais: Said: "Honeyman's N.P.C. Will be heard of some day." He was sitting in the garden Writing notes on a pad, Their little son was playing Round his mother and dad. Suddenly from the east Some aeroplanes appeared, Somebody screamed: "They're bombers! War must have been declared!" The first bomb hit the Dairy, The second the cinema, The third fell in his garden Just like a falling star. " O kiss me, Mother, kiss me, And tuck me up in bed For Daddy's invention Is going to choke me dead!" "Where are you, James, where are you O put your arms round me, For my lungs are full Of Honeyman's N.P.C.!" !I wish I were a salmon, Swimming in the sea, I wish I were the dove That coos upon the tree." "Oh you are not a salmon, Oh you are not a dove; But you invented the vapour That is k**ing those you love." "Oh hide me in the mountains, Oh drown me in the sea, Lock me in the dungeon And throw away the key." "Oh you can't hide in the mountains, Oh you can't drown in the sea, But you must die, and you know why, By Honeyman's N.P.C.!"