for Bernard Defrance

Leaving the tribunal
taking this wife home
he suddenly stops
thinks of three drops of love she slipt into one of her replies
he speaks while laughing
reflects while weeping
in the wind
in the street.

1.

Swift the reflection
slow the steps removing us
from this place
where hate is made law

The case is over
our lips are sealed.

2.

steps danced
steps struck

steps slipped
steps danced

handshake, look
loose

3.

Grimace : to pull on the two corners of the mouth to the point of no longer thinking.

4.

Love
resentment dismisses it
with a sudden motion

I am where
no one awaited me

quietly
without any dear goal.

5.

I spoke for you
and you spoke for yoursetf
so you had
that to say.

That has no importance.
That has not to be told.
That doesnt make me laugh.
That doesn’t stop me from singing.
That is
all moved on.

6.

What is alive is the return
this moment when the body is gone on
without thought.



Dec. 1987

Translated by Cid Corman. First publication : Abiko Quarterly with James Joyce FW Studies, Fall-Winter (Aki-Fuyu) 1996, Abiko, Japan. Pages 662-664.

Dans la rue
En la calle (trad. Philippe Chéron)