Poèmes Arabes

by Jacqueline Despas (b. 1893)

1. Défi  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
J'ai poli ton corps de tant de caresses, 
qu’il ressemble maintenant 
à la pierre sacrée d’El Djoûf, 
que tant de lèvres ont usée.

Le soleil peut s’éteindre 
et la lune tomber, 
il m’inondera de lumière.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, L'édition d'Art H. Piazza, p.6


Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

2. Le sommeil des colombes  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Dans le cèdre, des colombes 
se sont posées pour la nuit. 
Longtemps hésitantes, 
elles avaient tournoyé au-dessus 
de l'arbre solitaire. 
Maintenant elles vont s'endormir. 
Comme chaque nuit, au sommet 
de la plus haute branche, 
un rossignol chantera. 
Ainsi je berce souvent ton sommeil 
de paroles d'amour. 
Je crois que le même instinct 
guide les colombes et les jeunes filles 
vers les jardins où chantent les rossignols.

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3. Réponse  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Tu me reproches de ne pas  t'aimer... 
Trouverais -je mes roses  plus parfumées, 
si mes yeux se remplissaient de larmes chaque fois que 
je les respire ? Seraient-elles plus  éclatantes, 
si je ne pouvais les cueillir  sans leur réciter des poèmes? 
La pluie demande-t-elle à la terre  de frissonner d'amour, 
et la lune demande-t-elle au désert de la récompenser 
d'éclairer son étendue?

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, L'édition d'Art H. Piazza, p.22


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

4. L'heure tranquille  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Voici l'heure tranquille où les troupeaux s'acheminent vers le puits
Le jour décroît.
J'attends ma bien-aimée, étendu sur les coussins qui gardaient 
l'empreinte de son corps . 
En signal , j'ai posé sur la fenêtre un vase 
dans lequel trempe la tige d'une rose . 
Cette rose se détache au sommet d'une colline bleue.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, Paris : H. Piazza, 1919


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

5. Le sommeil des lévriers  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
À l'ombre aiguë du cyprès, mes deux lévriers dorment, 
comme des flèches dans un carquois.

Referme doucement la porte, et viens les caresser : 
ta main fera passer dans leurs rêves la fraîcheur 
d'un ruisseau du Liban.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, L'édition d'Art H. Piazza, p.30


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

6. Sur la mort  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
La gazelle blessée pleure lorsqu'elle va mourir
Lorsqu'une torche va s'éteindre , sa flamme devient paisible . 
Et toi , à quel moment as - tu conscience de ton destin ? 

Est-ce quand tu pleures , est-ce quand tu souris ?

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, Paris : H. Piazza, 1919, p.33


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

7. Poignards  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Celui qui brille au joyeux soleil des batailles.
Celui de l'assassin, rouillé de sang. 

Et ton regard.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, Paris : Piazza, 1919, p.43


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

8. Clair de lune  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Sur un jardin fardé de lune,  l'ombre noire d'un olivier s'arrondit. 
Sur la joue pâle d'une jeune fille,  un amant a posé sa bouche. 
L'ombre de l'olivier tourne sur le jardin. 
La bouche de l'amant parcourt le visage de la jeune fille.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, L'édition d'Art H. Piazza, p.56


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

9. Le baiser dans la nuit  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
A deux mains j'ai pris ta tête, comme une urne, 
et je me suis versé la liqueur d'amour. 

Qui aurait pensé qu'une urne si petite contenait tant de liqueur ? 
L'aurore ruisselait déjà dans le ciel quand nos bouches se séparèrent.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, Paris : H. Piazza, 1919, p.61


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

10. Le sommeil des faucons  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Repus d’azur, ils dorment.
Du sang macule encore leur bec, 
et leurs serres étreignent le barreau d'ivoire. 

Ainsi dors-tu quelquefois, rassasiée d'amour, la bouche meurtrie, 
et tes bras noués autour de mon corps.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, Paris : H. Piazza, 1919, p.62


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

11. Images  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Un coq qui chante, un cheval qui piaffe, un chat qui rentre :
l'aube. 

Un lis qui s'incline, un citron qui tombe, un arbre qui craque : 
midi. 

Les sables qui bleuissent, les fu-mées qui montent, 
les amants qui se retrouvent : 
la nuit.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, L'édition d'Art H. Piazza, p.65


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

12. L'Attente  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Plus rouge que la fleur de [l'ohkouan]1 
le soleil descendait [derrière la campagne]2. 
C'était l'heure convenue. J'avais entravé mon [cheval. Je]3 m'étais assis. 

Tu es [arrivée, Fatima]4 ! 
[Et j'ai frissonné]5, comme le dormeur 
qui est surpris par l'aurore.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, Paris : H. Piazza, 1919, p. 70, with the title "L'Attente". Earlier title: "Ebn Zeïdoun".

1 Bonhomme: "l'océan"
2 Bonhomme: "dans les sables"
3 Coelho: "cheval et je"
4 Bonhomme: "arrivée"; Coelho: "arrivée, ma bien-aimée"
5 Coelho: "Alors un grand frisson m'a saisi"

Research team for this page: Harry Joelson , Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

13. Le printemps sur la mer  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Un matin, j'ai vu le printemps sur la mer. 
Les flots étaient  un tapis de lilas 
où se posaient de grands oiseaux blancs, 
pareils à des pétales de fleurs d'amandier

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, Paris : H. Piazza, 1919, p.95


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

14. La pluie sur les roses  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Une goutte tombe, ensuite une autre. 
C'est la première pluie sur les premières roses. 

D'abord, elles frissonnent, attristées. 
Mais, bientôt, leurs couleurs s'avivent 
et leur parfum devient plus délicieux. 

Tes premières larmes sur notre amour.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, L'édition d'Art H. Piazza, 1906, p.118


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

15. La fontaine des gazelles  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Elles ne viennent y boire qu'au crépuscule. 
Une à une et inquiètes, elles surgissent de l'ombre 
et elles cherchent le lambeau de ciel que sa conque réfléchit. 

Ainsi, attends-tu la nuit pour pénétrer dans ma demeure, 
et, avant de baiser mes lèvres, 
cherches-tu à voir dans mes yeux l'enchantement de mon âme.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, Paris : H. Piazza, 1919, p.109


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

16. La confiance  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Laissez rôder les amoureux autour de ma bien-aimée ...
Pouvez -vous empêcher les mouches de voler autour d'un gâteau de miel ?

Laissez rôder les amoureux, mais engagez-les 
à faire construire leur tombeau, 
car aucun remède ne guérit les blessures que font les yeux de Yamina.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, Paris : H. Piazza, 1919, p.115


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

17. Le bonheur  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Cette nuit-là, tu regardais le ciel embrasé d'étoiles.  Tu disais : 
« Je pense aux jardins de Damas, qui ont des fleurs bien plus belles... »

Assis dans l'ombre, je caressais tes jambes, qui humiliaient le clair de lune.

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, L'édition d'Art H. Piazza, p.115


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

18. L'absente  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Afin d'oublier ma folie, je suis allé dans la montagne. 
Mais, le silence des plateaux me rappelait d'autres silences. 

Afin d'oublier ma folie, je suis allé sur la mer. 
Mais, son immensité me rappelait mon amour. 

Afin de mourir de ma folie, 
je suis revenu dans la demeure qu'elle habita

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, Paris : H. Piazza, 1919, p.136


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

19. Le regret  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Les ailes de la Nuit se sont refermées sur la Terre. 
Les ailesde tes paupières se sont refermées sur tes yeux. 
Tu dors. Ce n'est pas encore la rosée, qui mouille ta gorge. 
Ce sont mes larmes, car je pense à un bonheur perdu! 
Sous quelles caresses s'endort-elle, à cette heure ?

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, L'édition d'Art H. Piazza, 63-ième édition, p.137


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

20. Une jeune fille  [sung text not yet checked]

Language: French (Français) 
Une jeune fille, qui revenait du fleuve, 
modulait cette chanson que tu chantais si souvent. 

Je l'ai suivie, sans pouvoir retenir mes larmes. 

La voix liquide et pathétique d'un rossignol 
ne suffit-elle pas au prisonnier pour évoquer les délices des jardins 
où il ne se promènera plus ?

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Confirmed with Franz Toussaint, Le jardin des caresses, Paris : H. Piazza, 1919, p.138


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]
Total word count: 855