Sonnet French Poems

"Whoever you are -- I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."
-- Blanche speaking to whoever you are

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These are my modern English translations of sonnets by the French poet Stephane Mallarme.

The Tomb of Edgar Poe
by Stéphane Mallarmé
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Transformed...

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Un peu piaf, rien de rien.
One makes memories, what do they mean?
Our small sparrow shall not fly again
when those notes fall on persons unseen.

Nothing for...

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While tending to her pumpkin patch,
Chariot the dragon came across two folk in the midst of a kiss.
"Please mind your movements as my eggs will...

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Time is fleeting when love's guise becomes sweet
When eyes bow before beauty's silent pose
To feel the soul emerge and not retreat
With such fragrant scent from...

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She’d kissed a lot of boys, and some kissed great,
but few of those guys understood romance.
She thought she knew what kissing style was best,
but she...

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I'm lonely; you too; Yet, this need not be the cause,
You love me, vice versa; We're a collage of art!
Hearts ours, hot magnets, get attracted;...

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You swept in like a French impressionist with the leaves blowing in the air.
You snapped a photograph of me swinging and my long blonde hair....

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Renee Vivien Translations


Song
by Renée Vivien
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

When the moon weeps,
illuminating flowers on the graves of the faithful,
my memories creep
back to you, wrapped...

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Duellem (The Duel)
by Charles Baudelaire
loose translation by Michael R. Burch

Two combatants charged! Their fearsome swords
brightened the air with fiery sparks and blood.
Their clashing blades clinked...

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My friend opines, men are strong, but women
are much stronger enough to make them weak;
It's difficult to believe; Are men meek?
Hurting men's ego; how he...

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Sometimes we observe a great sense
of negativity arise,
feel pressure in mind, so intense;

Try to believe life with no love;
baffled, demoralized kind of 
pulling down our...

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A beautiful cathedral of glory 
Deep within the heart of Paris is found. 
It has become a place of world renowned, 
And has a rich...

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The Sun King (Roi Soleil)

The eyes and lips reveal the majestic, arrogant, smug smile
Of King Louis the Fourteenth, poised pompously in regal style.
Painted in robe...

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Nelson paced the deck of the Victory
In waters off the coast of Gibraltar
Signalled to his fleet to do their duty
Before the battle known as Trafalgar.
...

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