Text & Translation
Paul Klee
French source:
Paul Éluard
De la faveur du jour, verglas et sans cailloux,
Et les yeux bleus d’amour, découvre sa saison
Qui porte à tous les doigts de grands astres en bague.
Sur la plage la mer a laissé ses oreilles
Et le sable creusé la place d’un beau crime.
Le supplice est plus dur aux bourreaux qu’aux victimes
Les couteaux sont des signes et les balles des larmes.
On the fatal slope, the traveller profits
English translation ©
Richard Stokes
From the day’s favour, frost-glazed and pebbleless,
And eyes blue with love, he discovers his season
Which wears on each finger great stars as rings.
The sea has left its ears on the shore
And the hollowed sand site of a noble crime.
Executioners agonize more than victims
Knives are omens and bullets tears.
Paul Klee
French source:
Paul Éluard
On the fatal slope, the traveller profits
English source:
Richard Stokes
Sur la pente fatale le voyageur profite
On the fatal slope, the traveller profits
De la faveur du jour, verglas et sans cailloux,
From the day’s favour, frost-glazed and pebbleless,
Et les yeux bleus d’amour, découvre sa saison
And eyes blue with love, he discovers his season
Qui porte à tous les doigts de grands astres en bague.
Which wears on each finger great stars as rings.
Sur la plage la mer a laissé ses oreilles
The sea has left its ears on the shore
Et le sable creusé la place d’un beau crime.
And the hollowed sand site of a noble crime.
Le supplice est plus dur aux bourreaux qu’aux victimes
Executioners agonize more than victims
Les couteaux sont des signes et les balles des larmes.
Knives are omens and bullets tears.
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.