Thursday, September 4, 2008

L'invitation au voyage

Somehow anticipating Friday. The weekend generally brings boredom and too much wine, but this time I have a mission, a purpose.

We talked yesterday about pressure and treading with a light foot. Tomorrow he goes to confession and I go to see the scenery. It might be vaguely blasphemous, but I am far from caring. Based on what he has told me, confession should take some time, leaving me free to gaze.

I miss A. a little. Not much, and only on principle. Actual people suck. I do better with ideals.

Invitation to a Voyage
My child, my sister
Dream of the softness
Of going there to live together!
Of loving at leisure,
Loving and dying
In the country which resembles you!
The wet suns
Of these cloudy skies
For my spirit have charms
So mysterious
Of your traitorous eyes,
Shining through their tears.

There, all is only order and beauty,
Luxury, calm and pleasure.

With glowing furniture,
Polished by the years,
I will decorate your chamber;
The most rare flowers
Mixing their odors
In the vague scents of amber,
The rich ceilings,
The deep mirrors,
The eastern splendor,
All there would speak
To the soul in secret
Its sweet native language.

There, all is only order and beauty,
Luxury, calm and pleasure.

See along these canals
These vessels sleeping
Whose temper is wandering;
It is in order to satisfy
Your slightest desire
That they come from the end of the world.
—The setting suns
Cover the fields,
The canals, the entire town,
With hyacinth and gold;
The world falls asleep
In a warm light.

There, all is only order and beauty,
Luxury, calm and pleasure.

L'invitation au voyage

Mon enfant, ma soeur,
Songe à la douceur
D'aller là-bas vivre ensemble!
Aimer à loisir,
Aimer et mourir
Au pays qui te ressemble!
Les soleils mouillés
De ces ciels brouillés
Pour mon esprit ont les charmes
Si mystérieux
De tes traîtres yeux,
Brillant à travers leurs larmes.

Là, tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté,
Luxe, calme et volupté.

Des meubles luisants,
Polis par les ans,
Décoreraient notre chambre;
Les plus rares fleurs
Mêlant leurs odeurs
Aux vagues senteurs de l'ambre,
Les riches plafonds,
Les miroirs profonds,
La splendeur orientale,
Tout y parlerait
À l'âme en secret
Sa douce langue natale.

Là, tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté,
Luxe, calme et volupté.

Vois sur ces canaux
Dormir ces vaisseaux
Dont l'humeur est vagabonde;
C'est pour assouvir
Ton moindre désir
Qu'ils viennent du bout du monde.
— Les soleils couchants
Revêtent les champs,
Les canaux, la ville entière,
D'hyacinthe et d'or;
Le monde s'endort
Dans une chaude lumière.

Là, tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté,
Luxe, calme et volupté.

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