The Poet Laureate of Jones Street

Cages*

Each morning the birdseller
stacks his cages on the sidewalk.

He stacks them high.

Walls of finches tower over him.
Dollar bills flap around his head.

He counts all day.

The tourists keep him in their cameras.
The birds fly off in their song.

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(audio en anglais)

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*Inspired by the photograph
of Sam Tata, “Bird fancier,”
Shanghai, 1949.

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Le Marchand d’Oiseaux

Chaque matin il empile ses cages
sur le trottoir.

Il les empile haut.

Des murs de passereaux l’emprisonne.
Autour de sa tête des billets volent.

Il les compte toute la journée.

Les touristes le tiennent dans leurs appareils photos.
Les oiseaux s’envolent dans leur chant.
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1994. Traduction: Françoise Parouty
Publié: Décharge 2008