| L'OMBRE DES ARBRES ... | THE TREES' TALL SHADOWS ... |
| Paul Verlaine | trans. John R.G. Turner |
L'ombre des arbres dans la rivière embrumée Meurt comme de la fumée Tandis qu'en l'air, parmi les ramures réelles, Se plaignent les tourterelles. Combien ô voyageur, ce paysage blême Te mira blême toi-même, Et que tristes pleuraient dans les hautes feuillées Tes espérances noyées! | The trees' tall shadows in the pool beneath Dissipate like breath, While in the real branches through the rain The ring doves complain. How often, traveller, this fading space Mirrored your drained face, Or weeping in the leafage have you found All your high hopes drowned. |
This translation was one of a group that was awarded the John Dryden Prize for Literary Translation in 2009.
Trans. copyright © John R.G. Turner 2009