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*Be[a]st Year for Robin Lost among the Stars* - Translation Claude Roy

Missing image

Between two stars a robin found  
far had it flown, yet no surprise
it felt to be so outward bound
miles high, where smile defied the skies.

A bird soft sings - one is enough -
To stem disaster all around,
ten trillion stars this ball of fluff
saw millions more cheep’s cheek astound.

Earth thereto lends an ear, - at ease
its warmth wells from each leafy mound,
an echo riding on the breeze
told kitten’s sneeze, bees gold abound.

Eternal silence sleep prevents, -
how is the weaver by waft wound ?
Where bell tolled echo reinvents
what sense retained by spiral sound?

What feels the hound for harried hare,
and what the hunter for the hound ?
What feels the roundabout and where
should interest grow when its compound ?
.
What feels the clearing for deer’s [t]race ?
How feels the blood for heart’s thud pound ?
Star spars with insight and bad grace
when noisy strangers float around.

Star seeks LOVE’s meaning, ever bold,
what COLD means, how old men expound
on ALWAYS when within Death’s fold
all souls are soon called underground.

Bird song still seeks its Way to wave
cross star-crossed dream, by sadness bound:
Star ponders Mankind’s endless crave,
which only by the grave is crowned.





© Jonathan Robin - Translation Parody Claude ROY 1915_1997 see below



Bestiaire du Rouge Gorge qui s’est perdu au Ciel

 

Un rouge-gorge entre Andromède et Bételgeuse
pas étonné du tout d’être envolé si haut
un rouge-gorge avec sa voix claire et rieuse
un tout petit oiseau prend le ciel en défaut

Un oiseau chante-doux il suffit d’un oiseau
Le grand ciel monotone échappe à son désastre
à la nuit à l’ennui des milliards de zéros
qui ne sont plus assez pour dénombrer les astres

Il chante et la planère imagine une oreille
un bras un cheveu noir un peu de sang vivant
se rechauffe de l’herbe et du blond d’une abeille
d’un cheval d’un lézard d’un chat d’un brin de vent

Ce silence l’empêche de dormir
que le ciel tapissier ne cesse de tisser
Une cloche et l’écho qui n’en veut plus finir
comment est-ce le bruit d’une cloche au clocher ?

Comment est-ce le pas d’une biche aux clairières
comment est-ce le chant du sang quand le coeur bat
L’étoile entend s’ouvrir une lourde barrière
qui grince au visiteur et le bruit de ses pas

Elle essaie de flairer le mot qu’on nomme AMOUR
et ce que ça veut dire IL FAIT UN FROID DE LOUP
est quelle est la couleur que prend le mot TOUJOURS
quand on sait qu’on mourra comme on le fait chez nous

Le chant vert d’un oiseau qui cherche son chemin
traverse l’épaisseur d’une étoile songeuse
qui se met à penser au destin des humains
soudain si triste entre Andromède et Bétélgeuse.


Claude ROY 1915_1997

Author notes

n.b. 1 verse in English was not written in the original French version

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Comments


  • Lily otv
    October 14, 2007

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    From the little French that I know I think it is stanza four that has been added in but it fits into the rest of the translation flawlessly. I wish my level of Frnch was better as the literal translation can not compare with the artistic translation of a piece like this. I like all of this poem but stanza three is my favourite as I really like the idea of Earth lending an ear.


  • Lute
    July 13, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    yes it to would be great to know french, it is the most beautiful language on the planet, despite what Bill O'reilly has to say, keep up the good work.

  • suseann
    February 3, 2007

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    As beautiful a turn of phrase in verse this is,I''l bet it's even more so if one reads French. I know much is lost in translations.In attempting to choose a fav verse in this. I'm not about too. Because each one has a unique message all it's own and needs to tie together.Very poetic smooth descript verses transcribed in this composition. Kudos to you artist! You paint images of words well.~Susean