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Five Poems of Paul Eluard
Song Cycle by Francis Poulenc (1899 - 1963)
View original-language texts alone: Cinq Poèmes de Paul Éluard
Peut-il se reposer celui qui dort Il ne voit pas la nuit ne voit pas l'invisible Il a de grandes couvertures Et des coussins de sang sur des coussins de boue Sa tête est sous les toits et ses mains sont fermées Sur les outils de la fatigue Il dort pour éprouver sa force La honte d'être aveugle dans un si grand silence Aux rivages que la mer rejette Il ne voit pas les poses silencieuses Du vent qui fait entrer l'homme dans ses statues Quand il s'apaise Bonne volonté du sommeil D'un bout à l'autre de la mort.
Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Peut-il se reposer", written 1930, appears in La vie immédiate, appears in À toute épreuve , in Confections, no. 13, Éd. Surréalistes, first published 1932
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Can he rest?", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Ingrid Schmithüsen) , "Kann er ruhen?", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Can the sleeping man rest? He cannot see the night, cannot see the invisible. He has big blankets and cushions of blood on cushions of mud. His head is under the roofs, and his hands are clasped on the tools of fatigue. He is sleeping to test his strength - shameful to be blind in such a great silence. On the shores rejected by the ocean he does not see the silent poses of the wind which ushers man into its statues when it calms down. Oh the goodwill of sleep for the entire length of death!
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2002 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, "Peut-il se reposer", written 1930, appears in La vie immédiate, appears in À toute épreuve , in Confections, no. 13, Éd. Surréalistes, first published 1932
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This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 98
Il la prend dans ses bras Lueurs brillantes un instant entrevues Aux omoplates aux épaules aux seins Puis cachées par un nuage. Elle porte la main sur son coeur Elle pâlit elle frissonne Qui donc a crié? Mais l'autre s'il est encor vivant On le retrouvera Dans une ville inconnue.
Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Il la prend dans ses bras", written 1930, appears in À toute épreuve , in Confections, no. 9, Éd. Surréalistes, first published 1930
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "He takes her into his arms", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
He takes her into his arms. Bright lights are glimpsed for an instant on her upper back, shoulders and breasts, then hidden by a cloud. She lifts her hand to her heart. She pales, she quivers. So who cried out? But the other man, if he's still alive will be found in an unknown city.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2002 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, "Il la prend dans ses bras", written 1930, appears in À toute épreuve , in Confections, no. 9, Éd. Surréalistes, first published 1930
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 56
Plume d'eau claire pluie fragile Fraîcheur voilée de caresses De regards et de paroles Amour qui voile ce que j'aime.
Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Plume d'eau claire", appears in La vie immédiate, first published 1932
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "A plume of clear water", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
A plume of clear water, a fragile rain, a freshness veiled by caresses, by gazes, by words - love which veils what I love.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2002 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, "Plume d'eau claire", appears in La vie immédiate, first published 1932
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 4
Word count: 25
Rôdeuse au front de verre, Son coeur s'inscrit dans une étoile noire. Ses yeux montrent sa tête, Ses yeux ont la fraîcheur de l'été, La chaleur de l'hiver. Ses yeux s'ajourent, rient très fort. Ses yeux joueurs gagnent leur part de clarté. Rôdeuse au front de verre.
Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Rôdeuse au front de verre", appears in La vie immédiate, first published 1932
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "She prowls with a brow of glass", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
She prowls with a brow of glass. Her heart is inscribed in a black star. Her eyes show her head. Her eyes have the coolness of summer and the heat of winter. Her eyes open out, they laugh very loud. Her playing eyes win their share of brightness. She prowls with a brow of glass.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2002 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, "Rôdeuse au front de verre", appears in La vie immédiate, first published 1932
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 56
Elles ont les épaules hautes Et l'air malin Ou bien des mines qui déroutent La confiance est dans la poitrine À la hauteur où l'aube de leurs seins se lève Pour dévêtir la nuit Des yeux à casser des cailloux Des sourires sans y penser Pour chaque rêve Des rafales de cris de neige Et des ombres déracinées. Il faut les croire sur baiser Et sur parole et sur regard Et ne baiser que leurs baisers Je ne montre que ton visage Les grands orages de ta gorge Tout ce que je connais et tout ce que j'ignore Mon amour ton amour ton amour ton amour.
Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Amoureuses", written 1929, appears in À toute épreuve , first published 1929
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Peter Low) , "Women in love", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
First appeared in the revue La Révolution surréaliste, December 15, 1929, n°12, and then in À toute épreuve, Éd. Surréalistes, 1930.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
They have high shoulders and a mischievous appearance or else disconcerting expressions. Confidence is in their chests at the height where the dawn of their breasts rises to undress the night. They have eyes that could break pebbles, and unconscious smiles. For every dream, squalls of shouting and snow, and uprooted shadows. One has to believe them by their kisses and their words and their gazes, and kiss only their kisses. I show only your face, the great storms of your bosom, all that I know and all that I don't know, my love... your love... your love ... your love.
Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2002 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, "Amoureuses", written 1929, appears in À toute épreuve , first published 1929
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 18
Word count: 102