TITLE: English Translation of Victor Hugo's "Lorsque l'enfant parait" or When the Child Appears 12/06/2015 By Frankie Kemp 12/06/15 |
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When the Child Appears
(originally written in French by Victor Hugo—translated here by Frankie Kemp)
When the child appears, the family circle
applauds with great voices. His sweet face
which shines, makes all eyes shine,
and the saddest faces, the dirtiest,
lose their frowns suddenly seeing the child appearing,
innocent and joyous.
Even when June has painted my doorstep green
or when November blows leaves into the room—
The chairs come together,
When the child comes in,
joy arrives, and we light up.
We laugh, we cry out, we call him,
and his mother trembles
to see him walk.
Sometimes we sit around the fire and talk
of country and of God, of poets, and the soul
and raise ourselves in prayer—
The child appears.
Goodbye to sky and country and sainted poets.
The serious talk
ends in laughter.
In the night, when men sleep, when the spirit
dreams—when he hears the moaning,
like a voice that cries,
a wind in the reeds,
if the dawn suddenly shines like a
lighthouse,
its brilliance on the meadows brings forth a fanfare
of bells and birds.
Child, you are the dawn, and my soul is the field
Where the sweetest flowers give off their fragrance
as you breathe.
My soul is the forest whose sad branches
come forth at your sweet murmurs
and golden rays.
Because your beautiful eyes are pure and infinitely sweet,
Because your little happy and blessed hands
have never done evil--
Never has your innocence been touched by mire.
Sacred head!
Blond-haired child!
Beautiful angel—
A golden halo.
You are among us the dove of our ark.
Your tender and pure feet are ageless
where they walk.
Your wings are azure.
You look at the world untainted.
Twice innocent—body and soul
free from all impurities.
He is beautiful, this child, with his sweet smile.
His sweet, good faith, his voice that
appeases all our tears.
May his gaze wander to us
and astonish and rend us,
offering all of his young soul
to life
and his sweet mouth to kisses.
Lord God, save me! Save all those I love!
Brothers, family, friends,
and even my enemies
from evil’s triumph.
And never let us see, Lord,
summer without
rosy flowers,
empty birdcages,
hives without bees,
or a house without children.
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