Binôme – Untranslatable Poetry

The poems I write aim at creating very dense webs of sonorities within very short verses, so as to make the texts dependent upon the language in which they were originally created. Translating these poems while keeping the structure of sound repetitions thus becomes a near-impossible task.

You will find below some of my texts. A version in another language is provided but it only translates the meaning without any attempt at reproducing the form. The original appears in the present column.


		FRANÇAIS \| ENGLISH \| ESPAÑOL
		Untranslatable poetry The poems I write aim at creating very dense webs of sonorities within very short verses, so as to make the texts dependent upon the language in which they were originally created. Translating these poems while keeping the structure of sound repetitions thus becomes a near-impossible task. You will find below some of my texts. A version in another language is provided but it only translates the meaning without any attempt at reproducing the form. The original appears in the present column.
	Withdrawal Rancid absence Rich deficiency Dense silence Sweet latency Everything exudes... Your fragrance Your charisma Your presence Your elegance	Le manque Rance absence Riche carence Dense silence Douce latence Tout respire... Ta fragrance Ta prestance Ta présence Ton élégance
	Spaces You inhabit me By your presence I become Your residence Your field Your temple Your universe You impregnate All these spaces I receive Your body Your seed Your offering Your conscience You bring me All my meaning I enable Your shelter Your fruits Your prayer Your existence	Espaces Tu m'habites Par ta présence Je deviens Ta résidence Ton champ Ton temple Ton univers Tu fécondes Tous ces espaces Je reçois Ton corps Ta semence Ton offrande Ta conscience Tu m'apportes Tout mon sens Je permets Ton abri Tes fruits Ta prière Ton existence
	I remember I remember The deficiency And the breeze Of that summer The night On the porch The reunion Unstable The caress Of the wind And even Its aroma You seated In the night Quiet Beside me The light heat And the love That was reborn I remember	Me acuerdo Me acuerdo La carencia Y la brisa Del verano Esta noche En el balcón La reunión Inestable La caricia Del viento Y acaso Su aroma Tú sentado Por la noche Apacible A mi lado Leve calor Y el amor Que renació Me acuerdo
	La porte Aujourd'hui Je suis sous le choc La porte Était fermée Tremblante J'ai frappé La porte Était verrouillée J'aurais juré Que je l'avais Laissée Entrebâillée J'aurais juré Qu'elle l'était Bien Qu'éloignée Peut-être Le vent L'a fermée Pour moi J'aimerais En avoir Pris La clef Aujourd'hui Ma maison Est fermée Pour moi	The Door Today I'm shocked The door Was shut Trembling I knocked The door Was locked I'd swear I had Left it Ajar I'd swear It was Although Afar Maybe The wind Closed it For me I wish I had Taken The key Today My home Is closed To me


© Binôme, 2008. All rights reserved. Translation is subject to copyright.