pfchadiv

DIVERGENCE	DIVERGENCE
René Char	trans. Michael Worton
Le cheval à la tête étroite	The narrow-headed horse
A condamné son ennemi,	Has condemned his enemy,
Le poète aux talons oisifs,	The lazy-heeled poet,
A de plus sévères zéphyrs	To harsher zephyrs
Que ceux qui courent dans sa voix.	Than those coursing through his voice.
La terre ruinée se reprend	The ruined earth revives
Bien qu'un fer continu la blesse.	Though wounded by unceasing blades.
Rentrez aux fermes, gens patients;	Return to your farms, patient folk;
Sur les amandiers au printemps	Over the almond trees in spring
Ruissellent vieillesse et jeunesse.	Stream old age and youth.
La mort sourit au bord du temps	Death smiles on the edge of time
Qui lui donne quelque noblesse.	That gives it some nobility.
C'est sur les hauteurs de l'été	There on the heights of summer
Que le poète se révolte,	The poet strikes his revolt
Et du brasier de la récolte	And draws from the harvest's furnace
Tire sa torche et sa folie.	Both his torch and his folly.