A dialog between the poet and his "nocturnal twin" who inspires his poetry.
(translated from the French)
The reef you're heading for, which will be your respite?
Yet I am the helmsman and I steer and I weight
My holds with your ballast of darkness and of silt.
An obscure companion whom nobody would fool,
My voice never lowers even amidst your dreams.
Since you cannot forecast where your own star appears,
How shall you recognize the god whom you extol?
Become the night. Become oblivion. Be silent.
My voice never has ceased since you were an infant.
It's your Ariadne's clue, the toll for your passage,
The bridge across the swirls and rapids of old age.
When the destination and the hour you attain,
Off you throw your shadow!
My song, still, shall remain.
LE NAUTONIER
Es-tu le feu qui danse devant la proue?
Le récif qui sera ton but et ta trêve?
Moi, je suis nautonier qui guide et grève,
A fond de cale, ton poids de nuit, de boue.
Compagnon obscur et dont nul ne se joue
Ma voix ne se tait pas au coeur de ton rêve.
Toi qui ne sais pas où ton étoile se lève,
Comment connaîtrais-tu le dieu que tu loues?
Deviens la nuit. Deviens oubli. Fais silence.
Ma voix n'a pas cessé depuis ton enfance.
Elle est ton fil, l'obole pour ton passage,
Le pont lancé sur les rapides de l'âge.
Et lorsque tu auras atteint le point et l'heure,
Jette au courant ton ombre.
Mon chant demeure.
Poetry by Michel Galiana
Read 1185 times
Written on 2010-02-14 at 22:30
Save as a bookmark (requires login)
Write a comment (requires login)
Send as email (requires login)
Print text
(translated from the French)
The helmsman
Are you the light dancing ahead of the bowsprit?The reef you're heading for, which will be your respite?
Yet I am the helmsman and I steer and I weight
My holds with your ballast of darkness and of silt.
An obscure companion whom nobody would fool,
My voice never lowers even amidst your dreams.
Since you cannot forecast where your own star appears,
How shall you recognize the god whom you extol?
Become the night. Become oblivion. Be silent.
My voice never has ceased since you were an infant.
It's your Ariadne's clue, the toll for your passage,
The bridge across the swirls and rapids of old age.
When the destination and the hour you attain,
Off you throw your shadow!
My song, still, shall remain.
LE NAUTONIER
Es-tu le feu qui danse devant la proue?
Le récif qui sera ton but et ta trêve?
Moi, je suis nautonier qui guide et grève,
A fond de cale, ton poids de nuit, de boue.
Compagnon obscur et dont nul ne se joue
Ma voix ne se tait pas au coeur de ton rêve.
Toi qui ne sais pas où ton étoile se lève,
Comment connaîtrais-tu le dieu que tu loues?
Deviens la nuit. Deviens oubli. Fais silence.
Ma voix n'a pas cessé depuis ton enfance.
Elle est ton fil, l'obole pour ton passage,
Le pont lancé sur les rapides de l'âge.
Et lorsque tu auras atteint le point et l'heure,
Jette au courant ton ombre.
Mon chant demeure.
Poetry by Michel Galiana
Read 1185 times
Written on 2010-02-14 at 22:30
Save as a bookmark (requires login) Write a comment (requires login) Send as email (requires login) Print text|
shells |
| Texts |
 by Michel Galiana Latest textsThe plea of darknessThough your voice The helmsman Miracle gardens Blazon |
Increase font
Decrease