Le charnier enterre volontiers ses surplus, américains ou non. Il convient de les recouvrir d'une fine couche de détritus, de préférence ménagers, qui pourrissent mieux. Les corps alors voyagent en toute sécurité. On peut même parler d'harmonie.
The Mass Grave
The mass grave buries all its bodies gladly, American or not. It should be covered with a thin layer of garbage, preferably domestic, for better rotting. The bodies can then travel safely. You could even say harmoniously.
Translated by Zachary Schomburg
71 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