for Bob, 5 August, love Sweetheart

~ Children in the Wood ~

THE RETURN OF JEAN FOLLAIN ~

 

Deep in the Back

Deep in the back

of the vast attic

where rats feed on poisoned wheat

a ray of sun lights up

the enormous pile of gazettes

out of which comes the musty odor

of a faded century

in the sky soon every light will go out.

Something

Called stone eater

a tiny worm consumes the slate

in which it hides

minute by minute time is

tightening its screws

shaken jewelry makes its sound

ants reside in a ruin

something

is always happening.

Edge of the Hearth

The outbuildings with no real use

are left to the rains

a peasant woman

has an edge of the black hearth

for a seat

the evening turns

in swirls of her breath

the wind in the hollow tree

why beings and things

she thinks

and not nothing.

Village Square

In the village square

at the foot of the church

one of the drinkers puts on

the kepi of his soldier friend as a joke

above them the hour strikes so loudly

they flinch

a horse that is unhitched

when it stamps the soft earth

radiates an abundant calm

they say to get there

leave before nightfall.

Quiet

There is that moment

of hearing water flowing underground

across the clay.

Quiet

the man says to the boy

holding his watch up to his ear

satisfied it ticks so well

in the middle of a tainted century.

A Night

Organ function to breaking down

the hand stays pressed

to the craggy wall

then the body with neither hearth nor home

continues on through a cold night

and starts forging words

to speak in the coming daylight.

___________________________

Earthly

translated  by Andrew Seguin

The Song Cave, 2025