back to Paul Claudel

“Ballade” by Paul Claudel 🇫🇷 (6 Aug 186823 Feb 1955)
Translated from the French by Anonymous
We went many times before, but this time is good.
Farewell, all of you that we are expensive, the train must we do not expect.
We repeated this scene many times, but this time is good.
Did you think that I can not be separated from you for good? then you see that this is not the case.
Farewell, mother. Why weep as those who have hope?
Things that can not be otherwise not worth a tear us.
Do not you know that I am a passing shadow, shade yourself and appearance?
We shall return to you.
And we let all the women behind us, the real wives, and others, and brides.
It’s over the embarrassment of women and kids, we are all alone and light.
Yet even at this last moment, in this solemn hour and shaded,
Let me see your face again, until I’m dead and abroad,
Before in a little while I am no longer, let me see your face again! before it is to another.
At least take good care when you will be the child, the child who was born from us,
The child who is my flesh and soul and give the name of father to another.
We shall return to you.
Farewell, friends! We came too far to deserve your belief.
Just a bit of fun and fright. But here the country never left the familiar and reassuring.
We must keep our knowledge to us, including, as a particular thing we have suddenly enjoyment
The futility of man and death in one who feels alive.
You remain with us some knowledge, possession consuming and useless!
“The art, science, free life”—… O brothers, what is there between us?
Let me just go away, why do not you leave me alone?
We shall return to you.
You all stay, and we are on board, and the board is removed from us.
There are more than a little smoke in the sky, you will not see us more with you.
There are more than the eternal sunshine of God He created the waters.
We shall return to you.