looking for Emily (version 5)

                                              sur une traduction d'Olivier Sacomano

un écrin pour Emily

elle va et vient

lettrines

Unto like Story

 

Unto like Story—Trouble has enticed me
How Kinsmen fell
Brothers and Sister—who preferred the Glory
And their young will
Bent to the Scaffold, or in Dungeons—chanted
Till God's full time
When they let go the ignominy—smiling
And Shame went still

Unto guessed Crests, my moaning fancy, leads me
Worn fair
By Heads rejected—in the lower country
Of honors there
Such spirit makes her perpetual mention
That I—grown bold
Step martial—at my Crucifixion
As Trumpets—rolled

Feet, small as mine—have marched in Revolution
Firm to the Drum
Hands—not so stout—hoisted them—in witness
When Speech went numb
Let me not shame their sublime deportments
Drilled bright
Beckoning—Etruscan invitation
Toward Light
(295)

A long long sleep

A long – long Sleep –

A famous – Sleep –

That makes no show for Morn –

By Stretch of Limb – or stir of Lid –

An independent One –

Was ever idleness like this ?

Opon a Bank of Stone

To bask the Centuries away –

Nor once look up – for noon ? (463)

The largest fire ever known

The largest Fire ever known
Occurs each Afternoon –
Discovered is without surprise
Proceeds without concern –
Consumes and no report to men
An Occidental Town,
Rebuilt another morning
To be burned down again
(974)

Just lost when I was saved

Just lost, when I was saved !
Just felt the world go by !
Just girt me for the onset with Eternity,
When breath blew back,
And on the other side
I heard recede the disappointed tide !
Therefore, as One returned, I feel,
Odd secrets of the line to tell !
Some sailor, skirting foreign shores-
Some pale Reporter, from the awful doors
Before the Seal !
Next time, to stay
Next time, the things to see
By ear unheard-
Unscrutinized by eyes –
Next time to tarry
While the Ages steal-
Slow tramp the Centuries,
And the Cycles wheel ! (132)

will there really be a morning?

Will there really be a « morning » ?

Is there such a thing as « Day » ?

Could I see it from the mountains

If I were as tall as they ?

Has it feet like Water lilies ?

Has it feathers like a bird ?

It is brought from famous countries

Of which I have never heard ?

Oh some Scholar ! Oh some Sailor !

Oh some Wise Man from the skies !

Please to tell a litlle pilgrim

Where the place called morning lies !

(148)

la mystérieuse...

looking for Emily

an ignorance a sunset

An ignorance a Sunset

Confer opon the Eye –

Of Territory – Color –

Circumference – Decay –

It’s Amber Revelation

Exhilirate – Debase –

Omnipotence’ inspection

Of Our inferior face –

And when the solemn features

Confirm – in Victory –

We start – as if detected

In Immortality (669)