Maxianne Berger

Mots en mouvement/Words on the Move 2007

Translation of Zachary Richard's poem "1^er août, Section III (extrait)."
Traduction du poème "1er août, Section III (extrait)" de Zachary Richard.

August 1st, Section III (Excerpt)

It's too hot for
        Early August, the trees
Wearied by July's heat.
        Yellowed leaves, vitality
That turns back towards the ground.
        Except for the unyielding oaks
Haven for cicadas to sing
        And spiders to shape
Their webs. Light-footed ants
        In their branches perform
A ballet for summer's end.

Bird-like, I hide beneath the leaves,
        Seeking shade,
Staring at the white and pitiless sun,
        Asking wilted questions.
How through evolution and persecution,
        Through life and death, how my bones, my blood,
My eyes, my balls, my head
        Could end up here? Tethered through my ancestors
To the first humans to walk, to the first fish
        To swim in primordial ooze,
Tethered through my arteries to the first glimmer
        Of the first idea in the
Middle of an afternoon on a road
        That leaves the Southwest Louisiana countryside
To end up who knows where, tethered through choices from my
        Heritage seeded as much from behind as
From ahead, and as much by happenstance as twisted fate.
        Saddened by human arrogance,
Heartened by the loveliness of fields
        And trees.

(Written during the World Acadian Congress, August, 1994)


Home / Page d'accueil