Guillaume Apollinaire: The Gypsy (from French)

The Gypsy
By Guillaume Apollinaire
Translated by A.Z. Foreman

The gypsy could already tell
Our lives were blocked by night on night
We said farewell to her and right
Away Hope hurtled from the well

Love heavy as a hungry bear
Danced tall with our two wills for tethers
The bluebird shuffled off its feathers
The beggars lost the will to prayer

We're bound for hell and know full well
But on the way in hope of love
We hand in hand go thinking of
All that the gypsy's words foretell

The Original:

La Tzigane

La tzigane savait d'avance
Nos deux vies barr�es par les nuits
Nous lui d�mes adieu et puis
De ce puits sortit l'Esp�rance

L'amour lourd comme un ours priv�
Dansa debout quand nous voul�mes
Et l'oiseau bleu perdit ses plumes
Et les mendiants leurs Ave

On sait tr�s bien que l'on se damne
Mais l'espoir d'aimer en chemin
Nous fait penser main dans la main
A ce qu'a pr�dit la tzigane

Comments

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