Text & Translation
Marc Chagall
French source:
Paul Éluard
Jusqu’ à la peau d’un violon
Homme chanteur un seul oiseau
Danseur agile avec sa femme
Couple trempé dans son printemps
L’or de l’herbe le plomb du ciel
Séparés par les flammes bleues
De la santé de la rosée
Le sang s’irise le cœur tinte
Un couple le premier reflet
Et dans un souterrain de neige
La vigne opulente dessine
Un visage aux lèvres de lune
Qui n’a jamais dormi la nuit.
Ass or cow cockerel or horse
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
Even a violin’s skin
Singing man single bird
Agile dancer with his wife
Couple steeped in their springtime
The gold of the grass the lead of the sky
Divided by the blue flames
Of health-giving dew
The blood grows iridescent the heart rings
A couple the first reflection
And in a cavern of snow
The luxuriant vine traces
A face with moon-like lips
Which has never slept at night.
Marc Chagall
French source:
Paul Éluard
Ass or cow cockerel or horse
English source:
Richard Stokes
Âne ou vache coq ou cheval
Ass or cow cockerel or horse
Jusqu’ à la peau d’un violon
Even a violin’s skin
Homme chanteur un seul oiseau
Singing man single bird
Danseur agile avec sa femme
Agile dancer with his wife
Couple trempé dans son printemps
Couple steeped in their springtime
L’or de l’herbe le plomb du ciel
The gold of the grass the lead of the sky
Séparés par les flammes bleues
Divided by the blue flames
De la santé de la rosée
Of health-giving dew
Le sang s’irise le cœur tinte
The blood grows iridescent the heart rings
Un couple le premier reflet
A couple the first reflection
Et dans un souterrain de neige
And in a cavern of snow
La vigne opulente dessine
The luxuriant vine traces
Un visage aux lèvres de lune
A face with moon-like lips
Qui n’a jamais dormi la nuit.
Which has never slept at night.
Composer
Francis Poulenc
Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc (F7 January 1899 – 30 January 1963) was a French composer and pianist. His compositions include mélodies, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Read the full…
Poet
Paul Éluard
Paul Éluard was a French poet and one of the founders of the surrealist movement.