The Poet Laureate of Jones Street

Such a nice day

The air-conditioner trudging
(as if going somewhere)
neighbors walking their dogs
an old man coughing
the morning waking up

Such a nice day
another war
another shooting
children on their way to school
young men in green fatigues
their rifles shining

Such a nice day
scrambled eggs
and coffee
clumps of grass patching the yard
the sprinkler working
a baseball game at one

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…………………………………

Quelle belle journée

La «clime» s’essouffle
(comme si elle allait quelque part)
des voisins promènent leurs chiens
le matin se lève
un vieillard tousse.

Quelle belle journée!
encore une guerre,
encore un massacre aux actualités
des enfants sur le chemin de l’école
des jeunes gens en treillis
leurs fusils luisants.

Quelle belle journée!
deux œufs brouillés
et du café
des touffes d’herbe rapiècent le jardin
l’arrosoir est en marche
un match à une heure.
……………………………..

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2002.Traduction: Françoise Parouty
Publié: Archipel, Belgique, Vol.15,2000
Tarabuste Editions, 2007