Subscribe: by Email | in Reader

The Albatross -- Charles Baudelaire

Guest poem submitted by Vikram Doctor:
(Poem #534) The Albatross
 Often to pass the time on board, the crew
 will catch an albatross, one of those big birds
 which nonchalently chaperone a ship
 across the bitter fathoms of the sea.

 Tied to the deck, this sovereign of space,
 as if embarrassed by its clumsiness,
 pitiably lets its great white wings
 drag at its sides like a pair of unshipped oars.

 How weak and awkward, even comical
 this traveller but lately so adoit -
 one deckhand sticks a pipestem in its beak,
 another mocks the cripple that once flew!

 The Poet is like this monarch of the clouds
 riding the storm above the marksman's range;
 exiled on the ground, hooted and jeered,
 he cannot walk because of his great wings.
-- Charles Baudelaire
tr. Richard Howard.

This collection would be incomplete without Baudelaire. But having given the
poem above, I can see the problem. Its not a bad translation, but Baudelaire
doesn't seem to be a poet who translates well. The original, given below, has a
quality of musicality, of every word and syllable seeming exactly right, that
escapes the translation.

If you have any French though, Baudelaire is a poet who must be read (and as a
bonus, his French is relatively simple). There's this amazing atmosphere (though
not in this poem), of beauty, sensuality, music, decay. Its what he's writing
about, and the feel of the poems matches it brilliantly. (Its also why he works
very well set to music: I think there's a French singer called George Brassaens
who's done some great arrangement of the poems to music).

Vikram.

'L'Albatros'

Souvent, pour s'amuser, les hommes d'équipage
Prennent des albatros, vastes oiseaux des mers,
Que suivent, indolents compagnons de voyage,
Le navire glissant sur les goufres amers.

A peine les ont-ils déposés sur les planches,
Que ces rois de l'azur, maladroits et honteux,
Laissent piteusement leurs grandes ailes blanches
Comes des avirons traîner à côté d'eux.

Ce voyageur ailé, come it est gauche et veule!
Lui, naguère si beau, qu'il est comique et laid!
L'un agace son bec avec un brûle-guele,
L'autre mime, en boitant, l'infirme qui volait!

Le Poète est semblable au prince des nuées
Qui hante la tempête et se rit de l'archer;
Exilé sur le sol au mileu des huées,
Ses ailes de géant l'empêchent de marcher.

        -- Charles Baudelaire

29 comments: ( or Leave a comment )

billy lobo said...

second rate translation

Anonymous said...

I think you just made cool article , which I like to read it out !

Wilson Taylor
Denver, USA
phen375 review & capsiplex review

Ideas de negocios said...

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, but I am firmly convinced of this and love to learn more about the subject. If possible, acquire knowledge, would you update your blog with more information? It is very helpful to me

Anonymous said...

I am very enjoyed for this blog. Its an informative topic. Shorebase Services It help me very much to solve some problems. OSK Nusadana Asset Management
Its opportunity are so fantastic and working style so speedy. jasa seo I think it may be help all of you. Gejala Hepatitis Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Hello it's me, I am also visiting this web page daily, this web page is in fact fastidious and the visitors are truly sharing good thoughts.

Feel free to surf to my webpage phen375 Reviews

Acer Iconia PC Tablet Dengan Windows 8 said...

This is a really well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post.

hp samsung said...

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, but I am firmly convinced of this and love to learn more about the subject. If possible, acquire knowledge, would you update your blog with more information? harga hp samsung

Anonymous said...

I've been surfing on-line more than 3 hours lately, but I by no means discovered any interesting article like yours. It's beautiful price enough for me.
In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made just right content as you
probably did, the web will likely be much more useful than ever before.


Feel free to visit my web-site - wholesale ralph lauren

cam nang du lich said...

At the 2014 World Cup, coach Van Gaal once without hesitation official replacement goalkeeper in the penalty shootout, so why is he indifferent to the worst position player in M88 Manchester United defense after 3 goals?
Daley Blind good play left defender can completely fill the seat of Rojo, so he kicked it into M88 bundles alongside Rafael Blackett and drawn out, but the Dutch teacher decided to change it for every ton the m88
is running smoothly. As a result, substitute midfielder Mata to take the ball 4 goals lead to!

Unknown said...

all of which have been presented by this website was perfect, good appearance and artikelnya..penuh minimalist home design | nice bedroom | yamaha yzf color and full of meaning ..

Pendaftaran said...

Thank you for the information

Manfaat Buah said...

Admin thanks for the information PROVIDED

Unknown said...

Nice info modern home design given, may be a specifications and price blessing and free home design benefit us all

Pendaftaran said...

Thanks you very much

Unknown said...

had I not know how to flash mobile phone this knowledge, but modern home design after reading this article I became more knowledge rooting android samsung for how to root andoid the home and design knowledge how to fix mobile phone I need, how to flash phone thank you

PMB said...

Thanks you very much

IPO Channel said...
This comment has been removed by the author.

Post a Comment