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 A POET

189

it had a hunting theme, and it was called ‘ The Poacher’s Prayer Gavrila sat in wait for a rabbit, He shot it and killed it at once. . ..

‘ That’s splendid,’ said the editor,' but you must alter it shghtly. You must throw out the word “ prayer ” and also the word “ rabbit ”, because both are out of season.’ By the time all the changes had been made the poem was entirely different. Several editors gave him orders for poems, but the saddest part about it all was that Lyapis was not given any money. Some of them promised to pay him on Tuesday, others on Thursday or Friday, and others in a fortnight’s time. In the end he had to borrow some money in another office, where they never gave him any orders for poetry. Lyapis came down from the fifth floor to the second and walked into the office of the Stanok, where to his utter dismay he ran straight into the arms of the reporter, Persitsky. ‘ Ah, Lapsus ! ’ exclaimed Persitsky. ‘ Listen,’ said Nikifor. ' Lend me three roubles. Gerasim and Mumu owe me a fortune.’ ‘ I’ll give you half a rouble. Wait a minute. I’ll be back in a minute.’ Persitsky returned with some collaborators of the Stanok, who teased Lyapis whenever they saw him. They all began to talk. ‘ Well, how’s business ? ’ asked Persitsky. ‘ I’ve written some wonderful poetry.’ ' About Gavrila ? Something taken from peasant hfe ? ’ said another. They teased Lyapis about his poetry until Persitsky dragged him into the next room. ' Wait a minute and I’ll bring you that half-rouble,’ he said. But he did not bring the half-rouble.