The Sleeper in the Vale

My attempt at a translation of Arthur Rimbaud's "Le Dormeur du Val"

It’s a valley of green where a stream sings aloud,

Winding wildly through silver grass it runs;

Where the sun shines above the great mountain so proud,

It’s a valley filled with rays of the sun.

 

A young soldier, mouth open, head bare,

Across the cool grass he sprawls,

Sleeping; beneath the clouds so white and fair,

Pale in his green bed where the sunshine falls.

 

He sleeps with his feet in a blue flower nest.

Smiling as a sick baby smiles, he rests.

Nature, warm him: cold he lies.

 

The scents of the valley don’t trouble his rest;

He sleeps beneath the sun, hands on his still breast,

as the blood from the bullet holes dries.

Max Levites - 5/23/11

Author's Note

My attempt at a translation of Arthur Rimbaud's "Le Dormeur du Val". Yes, this was a real poem before I wrote it, so don't tell me that. This is merely a test of my translating abilities.

Original poem in French can be found here: http://poesie.webnet.fr/lesgrandsclassiques/poemes/arthur_rimbaud/le_dormeur_du_val.html

Reviews

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Paul Verlaine replied to Arthur Rimbaud "Le Dormeur du Val" with, Come, dear great soul. We await you; we desire you", I imagine he would have done the same for you

[Ruth]

The is an unfinished quality here that leads the reader to feel unsettled, what is his destiny after all? Beautifully written love, I like your work a lot! xx