On the Beach Translation of Etiemble S Poem Sur La Plage By T Wignesan

On the Beach, Translation of Etiemble’s poem: Sur la plage by T. Wignesan (The end-rhyme scheme of the orignal : abb(b)a, cdcd, efef, ghgh, iijj, klkl, fmfm, nnhh) How good-looking he was this spy all studded with sea-shells, that the sea disgorged on the beach (that the waves buried on the beach ?) at the very moment we departed this world! Anemones for his eyes, a clam instead of an ear, a bouquet of algae for haïr. Long, hard, white and similar to those statues of salt, for every tongue a cuttlefish bone whose caress rough and dry awaited only a venomous kiss. Clothed only in sand whose fever and the shock of our death had turned to wood our lips, we called into question the treasure : « English ? – French ?- Nazi ?- Who knows ? But Young, Oh ! yes ! Drowned, that’s for sure ; doubly drowned : the mouth open for the ultimate gulp of green water. How tenderly you leaned forward to seal the ancient eye-lid, that a tear, born of your needle-eye, heavy, colourless like stone trickled from his mouth : the honey suave !- « Oh ! the sea anemone flowers, there, unfolding their double rainbows, bubbles of rubber easily stained ; look, I killed him ! » « Fool, I said to him, admire with me the prodigy, and the proud perfume of his body the body of a deceased still faltering. » © T. Wignesan – Paris, 2014