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The Work of the Painter
Song Cycle by Francis Poulenc (1899 - 1963)
View original-language texts alone: Le Travail du peintre
Entoure ce citron de blanc d'oeuf informe Enrobe ce blanc d'oeuf d'un azur souple et fin La ligne droite et noire a beau venir de toi L'aube est derrière ton tableau Et des murs innombrables croulent Derrière ton tableau et toi l'oeil fixe Comme un aveugle comme un fou Tu dresses une haute épée dans le vide Une main pourquoi pas une seconde main Et pourquoi pas la bouche nue comme une plume Pourquoi pas un sourire et pouquoi pas des larmes Tout au bord de la toile où jouent les petits clous Voici le jour d'autrui laisse aux ombres leur chance Et d'un seul mouvement des paupières renonce
Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Le Travail du peintre, 1", written 1945, appears in Poésie ininterrompue, first published 1945
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Pablo Picasso", copyright © 2000, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Julia Henning) , "Pablo Picasso", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , "Pablas Pikasas", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
First appeared in the revue Labyrinthe, June 15, 1945, and then in Poésie ininterrompue, Paris, Éd. Gallimard, 1946.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Surround this lemon with shapeless eggwhite! Coat this eggwhite with a supple, delicate blue! Even though the straight black line comes from you, the dawn is there behind your painting. And countless walls are crumbling behind your painting, and you (with the fixed stare of a blind man or a lunatic) are raising a tall sword in the empty space. A hand, why not another hand? And why not the mouth as naked as a feather? Why not a smile, and why not teardrops at the edge of the canvas where the tacks are playing? This is other people's daylight. Let the shadows have their chance! With one blink of your eyelids, leave it at that!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2000 by Peter Low, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Le Travail du peintre, 1", written 1945, appears in Poésie ininterrompue, first published 1945
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 117
Âne ou vache coq ou cheval Jusqu'à la peau d'un violon Homme chanteur un seul oiseau Danseur agile avec sa femme Couple trempé dans son printemps L'or de l'herbe le plomb du ciel Séparés par les flammes bleues De la santé de la rosée Le sang s'irise le coeur tinte Un couple le premier reflet Et dans un souterrain de neige La vigne opulente dessine Un visage aux lèvres de lune Qui n'a jamais dormi la nuit.
Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "À Marc Chagall", written 1946, appears in Le dur désir de durer, Paris, Éd. Arnold-Bordas, first published 1946
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Marc Chagall", copyright © 2000, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Julia Henning) , "Marc Chagall", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
An ass or a cow, a rooster or a horse, even the skin of a violin, a man singing, a single bird, an agile dancer with his wife, a couple soaked in their springtime. Golden grass and leaden sky separated by the blue flames of health and of dew. Blood grows iridescent, hearts are ringing. A couple, the first reflection. And in a tunnel of snow the abundant vine sketches a moon-lipped face that has never slept all night.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2000 by Peter Low, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "À Marc Chagall", written 1946, appears in Le dur désir de durer, Paris, Éd. Arnold-Bordas, first published 1946
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 79
Un oiseau s'envole, Il rejette les nues comme un voile inutile il n'a jamais craint la lumière, Enfermé dans son vol, Il n'a jamais eu d'ombre. Coquilles des moissons brisées par le soleil. Toutes les feuilles dans les bois disent oui, Elles ne savent dire que oui, Toute question, toute réponse Et la rosée coule au fond de ce oui. Un homme aux yeux légers décrit le ciel d'amour. Il en rassemble les merveilles Comme des feuilles dans un bois, Comme des oiseaux dans leurs ailes Et des hommes dans le sommeil.
Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Georges Braque", written 1926, appears in Capitale de la douleur, Paris, Éd. Gallimard, first published 1926
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Georges Braque", copyright © 2000, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Julia Henning) , "Georges Braque", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
The bird takes wing, it throws off the clouds like a useless veil; it has never feared light; enclosed in its flight, it has never had a shadow. All the forests' leaves (the husks of harvests shattered by the sun) say yes; the only word they know is yes; it's every question, every reply, and the dew flows deep inside that yes. A quick-eyed man describes the heaven of love. He collects its wonders, such as leaves in a forest, birds in their wings and people in their sleep.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2000 by Peter Low, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Georges Braque", written 1926, appears in Capitale de la douleur, Paris, Éd. Gallimard, first published 1926
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 90
De jour merci de nuit prends garde De douceur la moitié du monde L'autre montrait rigueur aveugle Aux veines se lisait un présent sans merci Aux beautés des contours l'espace limité Cimentait tous les joints des objets familiers Table guitare et verre vide Sur un arpent de terre pleine De toile blanche d'air nocturne Table devait se soutenir Lampe rester pépin de l'ombre Journal délaissait sa moitié Deux fois le jour deux fois la nuit De deux objets un double objet Un seul ensemble à tout jamais
Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Juan Gris", written 1948, appears in Voir. Poemes, Peintures, Dessins, Genève, Éd. des Trois Collines, first published 1948
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Juan Gris", copyright © 2000, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Julia Henning) , "Juan Gris", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , "Chuanas Grisas", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
By day give thanks, by night be wary. Half the world was gentleness, the other showed blind rigidity. A merciless present could be read in the veins; in the beauties of outlines the limited space cemented all the joints of familiar objects. A table, a guitar, and an empty glass on an acre of solid earth and white canvas and night air. The table had to hold itself up, the lamp to remain a seed of shade, the newspaper was leaving its other half. Twice a day, twice a night, from two objects comes a double object, a single whole forever.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2000 by Peter Low, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Juan Gris", written 1948, appears in Voir. Poemes, Peintures, Dessins, Genève, Éd. des Trois Collines, first published 1948
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 15
Word count: 102
Sur la pente fatale, le voyageur profite De la faveur du jour, verglas et sans cailloux, Et les yeux bleus d'amour, découvre sa saison Qui porte à tous les doigts de grands astres en bague. Sur la plage la mer a laissé ses oreilles Et le sable creusé la place d'un beau crime. Le supplice est plus dur aux bourreaux qu'aux victimes Les couteaux sont des signes et les balles des larmes.
Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Paul Klee", written 1926, appears in Capitale de la douleur, Paris, Éd. Gallimard, first published 1926
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Paul Klee", copyright © 2000, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Julia Henning) , "Paul Klee", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , "Paulis Klee", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
On the fatal slope, the traveller takes advantage of the favourable day - icy-smooth and no pebbles - and with eyes blue with love, discovers his season which wears large stars as rings on every finger. On the beach the sea has left its ears and the sand has hollowed out space for a fine crime. Torture is harder on torturers than on victims; knives are signs and bullets are teardrops.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2000 by Peter Low, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Paul Klee", written 1926, appears in Capitale de la douleur, Paris, Éd. Gallimard, first published 1926
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 72
Soleil de proie prisonnier de ma tête Enlève la colline, enlève la forêt. Le ciel est plus beau que jamais. Les libellules des raisins Lui donnent des formes précises Que je dissipe d'un geste. Nuages du premier jour, Nuages insensibles et que rien n'autorise, Leurs graines brûlent Dans les feux de paille de mes regards. À la fin, pour se couvrir d'une aube Il faudra que le ciel soit aussi pur que la nuit.
Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Juan Mirò", written 1926, appears in Capitale de la douleur, Paris, Éd. Gallimard, first published 1926
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Joan Miró", copyright © 2000, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Julia Henning) , "Joan Miró", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , "Chuanas Miro", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Oh predatory sun, imprisoned in my head, carry away the hill, carry off the forest! The sky is more beautiful than ever. The dragonflies of the grapes give it precise forms which I scatter with a sweep of my hand. Clouds of the first day, insensitive clouds, authorized by nothing... their seeds are burning in the sudden fires of my gaze. In the end, in order to clothe itself with dawn, the sky will have to be as pure as night.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2000 by Peter Low, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Juan Mirò", written 1926, appears in Capitale de la douleur, Paris, Éd. Gallimard, first published 1926
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 12
Word count: 82
Irrémédiable vie Vie à toujours chérir En dépit des fléaux Et des morales basses En dépit des étoiles fausses Et des cendres envahissantes En dépit des fièvres grinçantes Des crimes à hauteur du ventre Des seins taris des fronts idiots En dépit des soleils mortels En dépit des dieux morts En dépit des mensonges L'aube l'horizon l'eau L'oiseau l'homme l'amour L'homme léger et bon Adoucissant la terre Éclaircissant les bois Illuminant la pierre Et la rose nocturne Et le sang de la foule.
Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, no title, written 1948, appears in Voir. Poemes, Peintures, Dessins, in 6. De la lumière et du pain, no. 5, Genève, Éd. des Trois Collines, first published 1948
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Jacques Villon", copyright © 2000, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Julia Henning) , "Jacques Villon", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , "Žakas Vijonas", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Life never curable, life to be always cherished in spite of plagues and low morals, in spite of false stars and invading ash, in spite of rasping fevers, crimes below the belt, dried-up breasts, idiotic brows, and mortal suns, in spite of dead gods, in spite of lies :- the dawn, the horizon, water, birds, people, and love... people light-hearted and good sweetening the earth, thinning the forests, and illuminating the stones... and the nocturnal rose, and the blood of the masses.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2000 by Peter Low, (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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, no title, written 1948, appears in Voir. Poemes, Peintures, Dessins, in 6. De la lumière et du pain, no. 5, Genève, Éd. des Trois Collines, first published 1948
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 83