An excerpt from
Veiled Countries/Lives
by Marie-Claire Blais translated by Michael Harris
Paix / Peace
We were alone on these roads
when, come towards us
like a beautiful, veiled country,
this song, this graceful plaint
of thanksgiving
which had travelled
the world
was it already
the needle
of snow melting
in the spruce--
a humming of joy, a murmur
in the fir trees--
was it already
our voice
thus given over
to the silent earth?
* * *
Nous tions seuls sur ces routes
Quand, vint ˆ nous, comme un beau pays voil
Ce chant, cette gracieuse plainte de reconnaissance
Qui avait parcouru le monde,
Etait-ce djˆ l'aiguille de neige qui fondait dans les sapins
Un bourdonnement d'allgresse, un murmure dans les sapins
Etait-ce djˆ notre voix ainsi abandonne
A la terre silencieuse?