L'arbre
by Mohammed Dib, 1920, Algeria
L'arbre attendait.
Puis il fit sombre.
Il
restait là-bas.
L'enfant le regardait.
It
dit: il fait nuit.
Et cela dit il rentra.
On
dina. On veilla.
Et l'arbre? dit-il.
Se
demanda l'enfant
Sous le claire de la lampe.
L'enfant
à qui l'arbre
Vint fermer les yeux. |
Tree
by Mohammed Dib, 1920, Algeria
Tree waiting.
Then it got dark.
It
stayed there.
The child watching it.
He
said: it's night.
That said, he went in.
Dinner.
Staying up late.
What about the tree? he said.
The
child asked himself
under the lamplight.
The
child whose eyes
The tree came and closed.
translation
by James Kirkup
|
