Français
Español
Italiano
Deutsch
Português
To Léopold Lacour.
February comes, it is Saint Valentine’s Day,
February comes, it makes the willows blush,
And, beneath the rays of a silvery sun,
Still shivering, uncovers its shoulders.
As soon as in the gray sky, it is Saint Valentine’s Day,
As soon as in the gray sky, a little of the coming dawn,
A silver fold and indistinct daylight
Have lifted the shadows on the plain,
All the birds, it is Saint Valentine’s Day,
All the birds, robins, warblers,
Blackbirds, jays, woodpeckers, all the mischievous tribe
Of bold sparrows, the lively larks,
Waking up, it is Saint Valentine’s Day,
Waking up, and shaking their feathers,
With a mad desire and uncertain flight
Have sought each other in the last mists.
In the bushes, it is Saint Valentine’s Day,
In the bushes, the ivies and the hedges
Where the green holly offers a red feast,
In the reeds, the thickets, the hazel groves.
In the old walls, it is Saint Valentine’s Day,
In the old walls, full of happy news,
There were cries, songs, a distant sound
Of chirping and flapping of wings.
All exchanged, it is Saint Valentine’s Day,
All exchanged, quivering with joy,
Many a tender or sprightly or libertine word,
After which they must address each other informally.
From time to time, it is Saint Valentine’s Day,
From time to time, a couple would break away;
And both had soon reached,
To talk alone, a supple branch.
Then they sought, it is Saint Valentine’s Day,
Then they sought the high branches
Or the humble tuft where to nestle their destiny,
And make a nest for future broods.
And all day long, it is Saint Valentine’s Day,
And all day long there were marriages,
Concluded without a priest and free of sacristan,
And whose beds are the first foliage.
Here is evening, it is Saint Valentine’s Day,
Here is evening, coming out of its lairs
The shadow has crept toward the extinguished sun:
All the birds are asleep in pairs.
Auguste Angellier
Translation generated by Poésies 123 with assistance from the deepseek-chat artificial-intelligence model.
Text published on Poésies 123: https://www.poesies123.com/en/poem-valentines-day-auguste-angellier/