Wednesday 19 September 2018

We were expected


We were expected earlier than the rain.
The swollen river had snatched the bridge,
crawled a yard out every time the
church bells rang. We hurried and hurried.
We washed up a month later downstream
when the brambles let us go, at last,
when we no longer were expected.
 

Tuesday 18 September 2018

Waiting for the train


They were all poised to board the train
platformed, tweed-and-silk couples
with eager tickets and febrile voices
paper-ribboned among the common,
which even the back-from-debauchery
Saturday bunch couldn't outsmart
and from the three-pieced to the bow-tied
a thirsty dog licking the condensation off
their last-minute, soda-filled plastic bags.
 

Monday 17 September 2018

Brute


This brute of a world this
relentless beast on the prowl
or so it seems to us
who bow down, one knee
on the ground and the hair
raised like briar on
the nape of their neck.
We don't believe in fate we
thought we would be safe
but we weren't we
couldn't for we 'drew breath'.
To us patient observers the
brute never ceases to pounce
every piece of beauty
to maul to shreds all
of what brought us joy
knowing doom was spelt within.
Wrought-iron wrench in the works
that's what the brute does
and is, and if for a moment
we fancied fighting back
we had sooner wished we had died
when last we slashed our veins
because this brute of a world this
 

Sunday 9 September 2018

outspoken


I was told to be out-spoken
but how can I be when
so often I've been spoken out
out of the playground
out off the bus
not a sound, never one sound
taken out to avoid the fuss
how can I be when
I'm so soft-spoken
never one word above the other
never have I given
anyone the f- word
or the n- word, even
when I was down-trodden
and I never bother
I just want to have fun
but people hold on
they hold it up against you
like you have to be outspoken
or they'll tread on you
they make a hell
out of a possible heaven
and you can tell
it's such a burden,
such a burden
speak up, speak out
step up or step out
I guess I'm more in-spoken
perhaps I'm broken
but I pay attention
I'm not a bespoke human
but I like to be spoken to
even though it doesn't show
even though between me and you
I prefer to be alone
and be unspoken
biding my puns
honing my lines
because let's face it
when it comes to words
I have more grit
and more guts
than all of you cowards
 

Wednesday 5 September 2018

The Road


The crack on the windscreen
slithering mountain ridges
against the setting sun
occasional splinters of light
when slightly tilted
levelling with the horizon

the blue pine tree orbiting
across the tracks
dancing to a music of its own

three stickers bleached
on the sprinkled dashboard
those you find on apples
the collector's pride

soon night will fall
that seemingly endless tunnel
no star to be seen
as it is storms season
redoubling the attention

right side window
refusing to budge
let old rain carve trails
on the expoxied trim panel

soon a dashlit, intent face
and another, flickering with sleep
in streetlamp intervals
seeming impervious
to the inbetweenness
the there and there moment

and yet, and yet, some form
of flitting magic is happening
in that such-a-deal rented car
hurtling through the night

Thursday 30 August 2018

Yet unheimlich


"Es ist nichts schrecklicher als eine tätige Unwissenheit."

"There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action."

Maxim 542
 
in Maximen und Reflexionen (Maxims and Reflections (1833)). Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, poet, dramatist, novelist, philosopher (1749-1832)

Wednesday 22 August 2018

Found in Translation


"You'll never know exactly what a translator has done. He reads with maniacal attention to nuance and cultural implication, conscious of all the books that stand behind this one; then he sets out to rewrite this impossibly complex thing in his own language, re-elaborating everything, changing everything in order that it remain the same, or as close as possible to his experience of the original. In every sentence the most loyal respect must combine with the most resourceful inventiveness. Imagine shifting the Tower of Pisa into downtown Manhattan and convincing everyone it's in the right place; that's the scale of the task."

Tim Parks, Why translators deserve some credit, The Guardian (April 25th 2010)

Link to the article.

It's a great read. I hope it will have readers -- any reader, because translation crosses the boundaries of literature to affect virtually every area of expertise in our endeavour to transmit and expand -- realise the importance of the work of translators around the world. Traduttore traditore, the Italians say. Well, stricto sensu there is no other way...it's a necessary evil (some would go as far as claiming that the translated work is a different work from the original), but in fine we translate greatness into a different idiom, and great translators just do that: shift paradigms...which reminds me of another quote, by Anthony Burgess: "Translation is not a matter of words only: it is a matter of making intelligible a whole culture."

Friday 17 August 2018

Just a dream


Voici un rêve fait il y a quelques semaines. Cela m'a pris du temps de le traduire (eh, je suis en vacances ^^)
This is a dream I had a few weeks back. It took me a while to get a translation (hey, I'm on holiday ^^)

*****
Je suis au milieu d’un grand square dans une ville médiévale (qui ressemble beaucoup à Minas Tirith), un groupe de personne, dont mon grand-père et moi-même faisons partie, décide d’enlever l’écorce d’une souche gigantesque qui est très vieille et pourrie. L’écorce est lisse et gluante, couverte de lichen, noire et imposante. Elle vient par gros morceaux lorsqu’on la retire, aisément. Certains dont je fais partie lançons les morceaux d’écorce au loin vers une sorte de ruines qui sont traversées de part en part par des racines. Nous découvrons des formes dans le reste de la souche qui est d’un blanc ivoire, bien moins imposante en taille même si elle arrive au niveau de ma tête. Ces formes se matérialisent soudain en pots, comme des conserves, dans lesquels on devine un visage humain lorsqu’on s’approche plus près. Encore plus près et l’on aperçoit des paupières closes, puis encore plus près les paupières semblent s’ouvrir pour finalement découvrir des yeux qui vous suivent. Tout le monde est impressionné lorsque je mentionne ce fait, voire inquiet que ces visages qu’on dirait fait de bois soient de la sorcellerie, mais nous voyons vite que c’est simplement un effet d’optique.

Nous restons un moment ainsi à jouer de cet effet avec le grand-père qui trouve cela fascinant, puis il est annoncé une course à pied à travers la ville. Le grand-père n’est plus là et je décide de participer même si une présence féminine, forte et proche et parlant anglais, dont le visage m’échappe me fait remarquer d’une voix insistante, quasi plaintive, que je suis chaussé de claquettes, que cela risque donc d’être dangereux.

Je contemple la ville des hauteurs où nous sommes, elle est magnifique. On la sent vieille, comme si elle avait jaillit de la montagne sur laquelle elle s’accote. Je vois le soleil au loin et des vols d’oiseaux sauvages dans les rais de lumières du soleil qui ne tardera pas à se coucher. Je n’hésite pas et m’élance avec un groupe dans les rues pavées de pierres blanches et polies par l’usage, des touffes d’herbes parsemant, parfois en grandes quantités, les allées vénérables. Il y a beaucoup de côtes et de descentes, comme des collines. Je vais très vite parce que je connais une technique de course que j’ai déjà utilisé dans d’autres rêves : me mettant à quatre pattes comme un loup, j’utilise mes doigts et mes orteils pour agripper le sol et ainsi me propulser avec force vers l’avant avec mes quatre membres.

Ma vitesse est ahurissante et la même sensation de liberté que j’ai toujours lorsque je cours ainsi m’étreint, mais ne connaissant pas le chemin de la course je me retrouve à hésiter à une fourche, puis à une autre. Je vois des statues, des portes et des rues. Des maisons tout le long. Des gens parfois mais la vitesse brouille les détails. Je m’aperçois qu’à une autre fourche le passage le plus à gauche est sans issue, finissant sur une ruelle débouchant sur une habitation, la porte en est fermée. L’autre fourche monte et s’en va loin dans la ville mais je doute que cette rue soit la bonne. Il y a bien un autre chemin tout-à-fait sur la droite mais l’herbe y est plus drue encore et il se faufile entre les maisons à colombages.

La voix féminine me conseille de revenir en arrière là où j’ai vu des statues. J’y reviens rapidement, la course battant son plein. J’entends des cris d’encouragements mais les sons sont distants et étouffés. Le chemin que la voix m’indique est similaire à celui rencontré plus avant : c’est une ruelle sur la gauche longeant des habitations et se terminant assez loin par une porte fermée. Je regarde autour de moi et m’aperçois que je suis sur une sorte de place, une grille massive fermant une immense porte de pierre blanche, plus blanche que les pavés. Il y a une autre rue qui elle remonte sur la droite, là où je sais devoir aller car la fin de la course est en haut de la ville.

Je m’élance alors à une vitesse encore plus ahurissante, je sens mes muscles donner leur puissance maximale, surtout dans les jambes, et mes mains agrippent puissamment le sol entre les pavés — je sens l’herbe avec précision dans mes paumes — et je suis serein car je sais que le secret de ma course m’a permis dans bien des rêves de me sortir de situations périlleuses. Je cours et les détails des maisons et des gens sont plus brouillés encore, mais je sais être sur la bonne voie.

Je finis par arriver sur une place ouverte, avec peu de maisons et une grande église. C’est visiblement le sommet mais la ville est tellement gigantesque que son sommet est tout aussi vaste. Je sais que ce n’est pas la fin de la course mais c’est ici que la mienne se termine. Je suis seul et je n’entends que le bruit du vent et des oiseaux. Une fois entré dans l’église j’y découvre une activité trépidante dans un lieu gigantesque : beaucoup de gens s’affairent, portent des caisses de légumes et de poissons, comme sur un marché florissant. Il se prépare quelque chose mais je ne me souviens plus quoi. L’intérieur de l’église est sombre et illuminé à la fois, et même si la lumière semble être plus présente, les tons ocres et noires y dominent cependant. Des rais de lumière pâle traversent les hauteurs vertigineuses de la nef.

La voix féminine se matérialise à mes côtés. Elle est grande et élancée. Je ne me souviens pas de son visage mais je sais ne l’avoir jamais vu. La douceur de ses gestes m’étreint la gorge. Sa peau est d’une blancheur d’albâtre. Je me souviens l’avoir trouvée belle dans sa longue robe rouge. Elle me prend par la main et me fait visiter les lieux. Sa voix est assez grave mais reste féminine. Elle parle toujours en anglais.

A partir de ce moment je ne me souviens que de bribes. Je me souviens que nous avons une formidable aventure durant laquelle nous sommes dans une forêt sombre, puis dans des ruines de pierres semblables à celles rencontrées plus tôt dans la ville et nous y combattons des monstres, mais la femme qui se révèle magicienne est rassurante et forte. Je me bats à l’épée – katana ou sabre elfique – la lame est courbe. Elle est légèrement blessée au cou mais ce n’est rien. Elle porte un collier de grosses pierres rondes et rouges qu’elle peut aussi porter comme une tiare.

A un moment donné nous sommes sur le perron de l’église et elle me parle, m’explique quelque chose. Je sais que c'est important. Je suis attiré par elle, et je sens qu’elle m’aime. Il y a un survol en apesanteur de la ville. J’ai beau fermer les yeux et être certain du fait que la fin est importante, je n’arrive pas à m’en souvenir. Je sais également qu’il y a eu un passage important dans l’église, un peu avant l’aventure. Même après avoir essayé de m’assoupir, je ne me souviens pas de plus.



*****
I'm in the middle of a large square in a medieval town (which looks a lot like Minas Tirith), a group of people, of which my grandfather and I are part, decides to remove the bark ofs a gigantic stump which is very old and rotten. The bark is smooth and sticky, covered with lichen, black and imposing. It comes in large pieces when removed, they easily come off. Some people, of which I am part, throw the pieces of bark in the distance, towards some kind of ruins which are traversed by roots. We discover shapes in the rest of the stump which is an ivory white, much less impressive in size even if it is level with my head. These forms suddenly materialize in jars, like preserves, in which we guess a human face when we come closer. If you come closer you can see closed eyelids, then even closer the eyelids seem to open to finally discover eyes which follow you. Everyone is impressed when I mention this fact, even worried that these faces which look like they're made out of wood are witchcraft, but we quickly see that it is simply an optical effect.

We thus remain a moment to play with this effect with my grandfather who finds it fascinating, then a race through the city is announced. My grandfather is no longer there and I decide to participate even if a strong, English-speaking female presence, quite close to me, whose face escapes me, makes me realise in an insistent, almost plaintive voice that I am wearing flip-flops, so it may be dangerous.

I contemplate the city from the heights, it is beautiful. It feels old, as if it had sprung from the mountain on which it sits. I see the soon-setting sun in the distance and flights of wild birds in the rays of sunlight. I do not hesitate and start the race, along with a group of people, in the streets paved with white stones and polished by use, tufts of grass sprouting in-between the cobblestones –sometimes in large quantities – along the venerable paths. There are many hills and slopes, like hills. I run very fast because I know a running technique that I have already used in other dreams: on all fours like a wolf, I use my fingers and my toes to grab the ground and thus propel myself forward with great force on my four limbs.

My speed is staggering and I feel the same sensation of freedom that I always have when I run this way, but not knowing where to go I soon find myself hesitating at one fork, then at another. I see statues, doors and streets. Houses all along. People sometimes but the speed blurs the contours. I realize at another fork that the leftmost passage is a dead end, ending on an alley leading to a house, which door is closed. The other fork goes up and away in the city but I doubt that this street is the right one. There is another road quite to the right, but the grass is even thicker and it sneaks between the half-timbered houses.

The female voice advises me to go back to where I saw the statues. I'm heading back, the race is in full swing. I hear cries of encouragement but the sounds are distant and muffled. The path that the voice indicates is similar to the one I saw before: it is an alley on the left lining the houses and ending quite far by a closed door. I look around and realize that I am on some sort of square, a massive gate closed by a huge white stone door, whiter than the paving stones. There is another street that goes up to the right, where I know I have to go because the end of the race is at the top of the city.

I proceed to run at an even more breathtaking speed, i can feel my muscles give their maximum power, especially in the legs, and my hands grip the ground strongly between the cobblestones – I feel the grass acutely in my palms – and I am serene because I know that my secret way of running allowed me, in many dreams, to get out of perilous situations. I run and the details of the houses and people are more blurred, but I know I'm on the right track.

I end up on an open square, few houses and one large church sith there. It is obviously the summit but the city is so huge that its summit is just as vast. I know it's not the end of the race but it's here that mine ends. I am alone and I only hear the sound of the wind, and birds. Once inside the church I discover a hectic activity in a gigantic place: many people are busy, they carry crates of vegetables and fish, as if we were in a flourishing market. Somethig is brewing, but I do not remember what. The interior of the church is dark and illuminated at the same time, and although the light seems to be more present, the ocher and black tones dominate there somehow. Rays of pale light cross the dizzying heights of the nave.

The female voice materializes by my side. She is tall and slender. I do not remember his face but I know I have never seen it. I feel a knot in my throat when I see the sweetness of her gestures. Her skin is of an alabaster white. I remember finding her beautiful in her long red dress. She takes me by the hand and shows me around. Her voice is deep, but remains feminine. She still speaks to me in English.

From that moment on I remember snippets only. I remember that we have a great adventure during which we are in a dark forest, then in ruins of stones similar to those met earlier in the city, and we are fighting monsters; the woman who reveals herself to be a magician is reassuring and strong. I fight with a sword – katana or elven sword – the blade is curved. Her neck is slightly injured but she says it is nothing for her. She wears a necklace of large round and red stones, which she can also wear as a tiara.

At one point we are on the steps of the church and she speaks to me, explains something to me. I know it's of import. I am attracted to her, and I feel that she loves me. Then a bird's eye view, weightless, of the city. I can close my eyes and remain certain that the end is important, but I can not remember. I also know that there was an important passage in the church, right before the adventure. Even after trying to doze off, I do not remember anything more.
 

Wednesday 15 August 2018

Smiling at the odds


"I like a man who grins when he fights."

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, British politician, army officer, writer, twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1874-1965)

Friday 10 August 2018

Time there


Time didn't stop, it just didn't
matter anymore

back to the old computation
of suns and moons
of counting in twelves
thumb on the pulp of the phalanges

to the bird pecking
the breadcrumbs at lunch
– it will certainly be there
when the place will be dead
perhaps checking the spot
every once in a while
till it then dies too –

to the after-dinner walk on the shore
or the dinner itself
both dictated by needs only
thirst, hunger, sweat, satiety

to the pile of read books
and the local daily

details effaced in the mind
smoothed like a stretched but
unbreaking plastic table cover

time there just wasn't
impressions couldn't remain
memories faded upon waking
stayed only what served the instinct.
 

Habits

I am a man of habits I got to this conclusion because I flash-realised that I am hoping that someone, someday will see the patterns the rou...