Pourquoi ne pas voir la ceinture pour ce qu'elle est: un moyen de tenir les pantalons? Le ceinture n'est nullement un animal de compagnie, non plus qu'un outil d'aéroportation, sauf complication. C'est courant. On trouve, en ville, des ceintures petites de taille, et des grandes. Parfois on mange, plus que de projet. On trouve les ceintures grandes, ou bien petites. Jamais les deux en même temps, d'où l'économie d'embonpoint, et de compagnie. On trouve les ceintures petites.
Non, la ceinture n'est pas le meilleur compagnon.
The Belt
Why not see the belt for what it is: a way to hold up pants? The belt is by no means a pet, nor a means of flight, without complication. This is what’s current. In town we can find small belts and large belts. Sometimes we eat more than we should. We find large belts, or small belts. Never both at the same time, hence the economy of being overweight, and of companionship. We find small belts.
No, the belt is not the best companion.
Translated by Zachary Schomburg
69 The Paris-American
Jacques Rebotier is a poet, actor, director and composer. He has written over a dozen books of poems. These translations are from his book of poems, Quelques Animaux de Transport et de Compagnie (Harpo &, 2004). He was born in 1950 and is French. More information can be found here: www.rebotier.net/
Zachary Schomburg is the author of The Man Suit (2007), Scary, No Scary (2009), Fjords vol. 1 (2012), and a forthcoming book called The Book of Joshua. He co-edits Octopus Books and co-curates the Bad Blood Reading Series in Portland, OR.
Next week's poet:
Christopher Kondrich Winner of the 2013 The Paris-American Reading Series Contest