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Raconter des salades

Missing image

 
 

Je vois la juive jeune

et son nègre adorant

danser comme

deux fruits-de-nuit

 

Tous les deux bourgeonnent

en plein été

autour de Saint Germain

– faut que je sourie!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Author notes

The photo is by Robert Doisneau, and is in the public domain as far as I know.

 

 

 

Jive talking

 

I see the Jewish girl

and her adoring black guy

dance like

two nighttime fruits

 

Both are coming into bud

in high summer

around St Germain

– gotta smile!

 

 

 

In a list

A contest entry

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Comments

1 - 24 of 24

  • SteveS gold member
    December 1, 2009

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    This is so cool. I read the French version first, as I wanted to "feel" the poetry first before understanding. I was so pleased that the interpretation did not fall far from my presumed one. Beautiful poem.

  • Clelia
    November 29, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    Your title is effective and unique. I like the use of the gerund in it, works well. The nighttime fruit is such a top-choice metaphor and I love the taste of culture, the dancing mood of the poem. If a poem is short, I want to feel like it's complete after I read it, and I feel that with this one, well done and best of luck in the contest.


  • Night Hope gold member
    November 28, 2009

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    Prejudice has long been something which I could neither condone or understand. Although our skin colors may differ, do we all not bleed red, all grieve when we lose someone we love, rejoice when we are happy and longing to dance to such sweet music? Congratulations on winning the gold trophy with this fine piece. That's such a great picture, as well. It clearly demonstrates how free we may become, given a chance and a choice. Good luck in the contest, Sweetie.



  • maa gold member
    February 12, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    how cooooool ...
    and the wee yellow vase is so well deserved ...
    no teasing


    • Mairi bheag gold member
      February 12, 2009

      Edit | Reply
      I am SO glad you found this one - I needed the reassurance of a Francophone!


  • afroqban
    February 11, 2009
    Edit | Reply
    ahh this is amazing! very beautiful, i enjoyed this so much. well done

    • Mairi bheag gold member
      February 12, 2009
      Edit | Reply
      Thank you.

      (I really must get round to doing some reciprocal reading!)


  • Cannonsfire
    February 10, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    Oh this is just wonderful...and what woman wouldn't go crazy for french


  • Tirrell
    February 10, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    I always apreaciate the translations, this is a beautiful poem, as I tried to pronounce the language above, it has a beautiful feel to it, and thanks to the translation, I can apreaciate the imagery, well worth the efforts, as the whole is beautiful.


  • nutmegg
    February 10, 2009
    Edit | Reply
    Ha! love this


  • klassy lassy
    February 10, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    I loved this! and you made me wish I could speak French, but I'll have to settle for the English translation as I've only a fleeting few words still in my head from high school days. When I began to read these entries, I wondered if someone would post in French, and here it is! The picture is of another era, too... You capture it well.


  • Ariosto II. gold member
    February 10, 2009
    Edit | Reply
    ceci m'incite pour sourire également
    photo merveilleuse
    et poésie merveilleuse


  • Ceridwens Soul silver member
    February 10, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    Une danse qui coule des repos tactiles sur la langue mais fournit un message puissant. Bonne chance m'amie.


  • crisstiena gold member
    February 10, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    Ceci fait en effet un sourire!
    Bonne chance dans le concours.

    ~ crisstiena ♦


  • cricketjeff gold member
    February 10, 2009

    Edit | Reply
    Not being able to follow Amera and comment on the original versus the translation I shall content myself with the English, I love the poem and the sentiments, it is, in the borrowed words of a great poet, a thoroughly Ronseal poem, doind exactly what it sets out to do, and doing it just right.


  • Amera gold member
    February 10, 2009

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    It has been a long time in coming but I think we are finally seeing a break down in the color/race barriers and the ignorance that had birthed the problem in the first place. The reference to Saint Germain is really powerful as you also brought the language division. You then you reinforced that idea by penning it in French. I think this poem is not only politically correct, it is brilliant because you penned all this into a short simple verse. Standing ovations!

    Love,
    Amera♥


    • Mairi bheag gold member
      February 10, 2009
      Edit | Reply
      I composed this poem in French - thank heaven I can still "think" in my second language - and then translated it into English. I am very glad you liked it.


      • Amera gold member
        February 10, 2009
        Edit | Reply
        Yes, I notice that your translation isn’t perfectly accurate but it is politically correct.
        I didn’t read the contest before I read your poem; the hostess doesn’t like anything I write. I went to see the contest after I commented.

1 - 24 of 24