Aubanel’s Blacksmiths

LES FORGERONS, Théodore Aubanel; translated by Denise DeVries

The reclining fire rekindles
with a stormy blow as if
in demonic duel, ripping
clouds to rags,
fantastic troops striking
the red sun…
The blacksmiths blacken,
hammers exhaust their arms,
smoke envelops the flame;
and the sun, enraged,
released from the monstrous anvil,
throws itself into the screaming sea.

Original:

L’incendie s’allume au couchant.
D’une bataille de démons
on dirait parfois le choc orageux ;
on dirait, dans les nuages en lambeaux,
que des maréchaux fantastiques
frappent sur le soleil rouge…
Les forgerons deviennent noirs,
le marteau fatigue les bras,
la fumée enveloppe la flamme ;
et le soleil en courroux,
de l’horrible enclume renversée,
se jette dans la mer qui hurle.

~~~

Now I’m not quite sure which rabbit hole led me to Théodore Aubanel, but the blacksmiths are a nice change from the odes to muses and trees.

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