Poetic-Verses from ATHANASE
Lord of the Roses and Lilies (English)
for Driss Chraibi
'Since you're travelling to a distant land,
take this mirror as a farewell gift.'
Po Kiu-yi
I've already told you, my Friend,
sincerely,
from the depths of my soul,
I want you to smile,
I want you to stay sitting radiantly under the wisterias,
your soul pure and true
as the transparent sky!
Lord of the roses and the lilies,
lord of all flowers,
grant us peace!
May your heart be wide open like a nest
that welcomes every wounded bird from the street,
and every comforting word!
Lord of the roses and the lilies,
Lord of all the songbirds,
grant us peace!
I'm certain in my innermost being that this is
the most sublime truth, the pinnacle of metaphysics,
the noblest philosophy of mercy,
the true aesthetic of divine simplicity,
the religion of the most perfect faith!
Lord of the roses and the lilies,
Lord of all the trees,
grant us peace!
For the love of God, stay like that for ever,
free, humble, loving, ordinary,
true as the air, innocent and modest as the dawn!
Lord of the roses and the lilies,
Lord of all the rivers,
grant us peace!
Yes, my Friend under the wisterias,
smile at time for time smiles at you!
Let the blue tits in their disorderly flight
come and quench their thirst for tenderness
at the well-edge of your mouth
covered in dew!
Lord of the roses and the lilies,
Lord of all the oceans,
grant us peace!
translated from the French of Athanase Vantchev de Thracy by Norton Hodges
25.04.07.
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Lord of the Roses and Lilies (English)
Lord of the Roses and Lilies (English)
