1874 – 1950
RÉVERIE D'UN GARDIAN
[MUSINGS OF A HERDSMAN]
Where are the clear light of the
dawn and the gallop
Of horses neighing in the wind
of the morning?
The fire throws onto the shining
pewter of the dresser
Its soft warmth and the
reflection of the flame.
The cat, asleep on my knees, is
purring;
Listening to the flutter of the
wind amongst the brands,
I think of all the fruits that I
have crushed in my mouth,
I sit thinking of all the paths on
which I have gone astray.
My youth has gone as went the
swallows
When they saw the mists come
towards them above the sea
And the bowl is cracked and
the wine is bitter
And in the failing body the soul
sits solitary.
There was a time when in the
little streets with white walls
Proudly I galloped in the
midday heat,
Lance in hand the belt
above the haunches.
There was a time when we left
the corrals at the break of day.
The girls clustering round the
doors of the cabins
With their clear laughter wished
us their good-days.
But, grave, rolled in our woollen
burnouses,
In the breath of the dawn we
pressed the bulls along
The rising sun shining on their
horns.
Pride of the strong, swelling
pride of the chieftains,
Thirst of the conqueror swooping
down on conquered towns…
All these years were ours when we
galloped before the door.
A-gallop, invincible, we swept
into the arena
And the girls from the balconies
clapped their hands for us.
Then when came evening
before the calm of the night
Erect in our stirrups we drove
out of that oval
Pressing before us the panting bulls
And the blood of the horses
bathed our spurs.
Exact date of composition unspecified
Published some time between 1918 – 1950
Translator unknown
but possibly
FORD MADOX FORD
Use the link below to read more poems (translated into English) by Provençal poet and author JOSEPH D'ARBAUD:
https://www.jfbrun.eu/occitanpoetry/occitanpoetry_darbaud.htm
You might also enjoy:
Poet of the Month 004: FORD MADOX FORD
Poet of the Month 050: FORD MADOX FORD
Poet of the Month 082: BERTOLT BRECHT
