Erythrea, Poem by Gérard De Nerval

Poem by Gérard De Nerval Period 19th century

Column of Sapphire, embroidered with arabesques
— Reappear! — The Ringdoves weep searching for their nest:
And, from your azure foot to your granite brow
Unfolds in long folds the purple of Judaea!

If you see Benares leaning on its river
Take your bow and revive your corset of burnished gold:
For here comes the Vulture, flying over Patani,
And with white butterflies the Sea is overflowing.

Mahdéwa! Let your sails float on the waters
Deliver your purple flowers to the current of the streams:
The snow of Cathay falls on the Atlantic:

Meanwhile the priestess with the vermilion face
Is still asleep beneath the Arch of the Sun:
— And nothing has disturbed the severe portico.

Gérard de Nerval

Translation generated by Poésies 123 with assistance from the deepseek-chat artificial-intelligence model.

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