Like spittle
exchanged between
grimacing mouths,
zero to zero.
Bones so chipped
or shattered
that they must be
cribbled from a
pouch of sand.
Laid out at last
like a rosary
of baby teeth.
***
On June 10, 1876, the Prins van Oranje, a three-masted sailing ship, left Helder and began the voyage to Java. It carried forty some civilians, the mail, some unremarkable merchandise, a quartet of cows to provide fresh milk daily, and a contingent of soldiers of the Dutch colonial army, himself being one. The Prins made a first stop at Southampton, then proceeded to Gibraltar, to Naples, through the Suez Canal, and on to Batavia, arriving there on July 22nd.
Of the many remaining mysteries, this one is small but pretty. How was the passage back to France paid for, having deserted the Dutch ranks and boarded the Wandering Chief, August 30, 1876? From Java round the Cape of Good Hope, stopping at St. Helena to repair storm damage. Four months at sea aboard that little bit of Scotland. Four months at sea as passenger, stowaway or crew member?
***
And what possessed the applicant to note (dutifully, as if confused between pride and prejudice) his desertion into the Oost-Indische jungle? Though he blurred the uniform worn, the loyalty owed.
[original – R’s own English] To the American Consul at Brementhe 14 may 77
// the undersigned Arthur Rimbaud – born in Charleville (France) – aged 23 – 5 feet 6 height – good healthy – late a teacher of sciences and languages – recently deserted from the 47th Regiment of the French army – actually in Bremen without any means, the French Consul refusing any Relief – would like to know on which conditions he could conclude an immediate engagement in the American navy – speaks and writes English, German, French, Italian and Spanish – has been four months as a sailor in a Scotch bark, from Java to Queenstown, from August to December 76 – would be very honoured and grateful to receive an answer.
John-Arthur Rimbaud