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Je ne veux que te meurtrir de caresses, et je n'en désire aucune. Je ne veux qu'écouter la mer dans tes mains creuses, puis mettre tes mains sur mes yeux, comme de la nuit. Je ne veux que me griser de [nostalgie]1, en soutenant ton regard. Je ne veux qu'entendre ta voix, qui me rappellera les voix des femmes de mon pays. Je ne veux que caresser sur ton corps des souvenirs et des regrets. Et si je baise tes lèvres, leur suc me sera très amer. Mais j'ai baisé tes lèvres, et leur suc m'a enivré. J'ai caressé ton corps, et ma main tremblait. J'ai entendu ta voix, et les voix des femmes de mon pays n'était plus qu'une musique barbare. J'ai soutenu ton regard, et j'ai baissé les yeux. J'ai écouté la mer dans tes mains creuses, et cette océan m'a submergé!
Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le Jardin des Caresses, L'édition D'art H. Piazza, p. 108
1 Aubert: "nostalgies"Text Authorship:
- by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955), "Le vaincu", appears in Le jardin des caresses, no. 110, Paris, Éd. H. Piazza, first published 1911 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Louis Aubert (1877 - 1968), "Le vaincu", 1917, published 1917 [ medium voice and piano or orchestra ], from Six poèmes arabes, no. 2, Paris, Édition Durand [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Grant Hicks) , "Vanquished", copyright © 2025, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Grant Hicks [Guest Editor] , Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2013-12-11
Line count: 23
Word count: 146
I wish only to bruise you with caresses, and I want none for myself. I wish only to listen to the sea in your cupped hands, then place your hands over my eyes, like night. I wish only to become drunk with nostalgia, while bearing your gaze. I wish only to hear your voice, which will recall to me the voices of my countrywomen. I wish only to caress on your body memories and regrets. And if I kiss your lips, I will find their juice very bitter. But I kissed your lips, and I found their juice intoxicating. I caressed your body, and my hand trembled. I heard your voice, and the voices of my countrywomen were no longer but a barbarian music. I bore your gaze, and I lowered my eyes. I heard the sea in your cupped hands, and that ocean overwhelmed me!
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2025 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Franz Toussaint (1879 - 1955), "Le vaincu", appears in Le jardin des caresses, no. 110, Paris, Éd. H. Piazza, first published 1911
This text was added to the website: 2025-08-15
Line count: 23
Word count: 146