Tuesday 15 May 2012

Paris at night



I'm a little bit in love with Jacques Prévert at the moment. His words are so simple, and complicated. Separate, and tangled. Ordinary, and magical. Like water in a river.

Here's the first of a series of his poems that I must share with you.





























Paris at night


Three matchsticks lit one by one in the night
The first to see the whole of your face
The second to see your eyes
The third to see your mouth
And complete darkness to remember this all
With you locked in my arms.



 _ _ _ _ _ 




And the original...


Trois allumettes une à une allumées dans la nuit
La premiére pour voir ton visage tout entier
La seconde pour voir tes yeux
La dernière pour voir ta bouche
Et l'obscuritè tout entière pour me rappeler tout cela
En te serrant dans mes bras.





Jacques Prévert
(1900-1977)



5 comments:

  1. yes yes yes! thanks for the reminder! I've so enjoyed his words before, and it is time to get back in there myself!

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    1. Mina - it's good to find someone who as taken in with him! he's wonderful, isn't he :)

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  2. What a beautiful poem, in both languages! French is so beautiful though, I think even the instructions on a packet of seeds or something would sound incredible :)

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    Replies
    1. you're right, emma :) my knowledge of french is worse than basic, but it still sounded so lovely!

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  3. PS. Pia, you are tagged in a Travel Meme over at mine. No obligation though obviously! :)

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