Sunday, October 18, 2015

Berowne's 290

(Also for ABC Wednesday: "O" is for "overwhelming")

No quiz this week.

An amazing thing happened a few days ago.  A theatrical company – primarily a dance group, I guess  - started to perform right outside my window.

What a show!  What pirouettes and jetees, what whirling about!


But then I realized, it’s October.  Some stagehand had thrown a switch and the nearby trees suddenly filled the autumnal air with falling, dancing leaves.  It really needed some background music, something overwhelmingly classical.

This took me back a few decades, back to the days when American francophiles were fascinated by the work – the poetry and the films – of Jacques Prevert.

Of course, speaking of music, I thought of his song “Les Feuilles mortes” – “Autumn Leaves” – especially as sung by Edith Piaf and Yves Montand.

Prevert’s poetry holds up well today and is perfect for an October day.

“C’est une chanson qui nous ressemble,
Toi, tu m’aimais et je t’aimais.”

It’s a song that’s like the two of us,
You, you who loved me and I who loved you.


“Et nous vivions tous deux ensemble,
Toi qui m’aimais, moi qui t’aimais.”

And the two of us lived together,
You who loved me and I who loved you.


“Mais la vie separe ceux qui s’aiment,
Tout doucement, sans faire de bruit.
Et la mer efface sur le sable
Les pas des amants desunis.”

But life separates those who love,
Softly, making no noise.
And the sea erases on the sand
The footprints of lovers who are no longer together.



                                  Jacques Prevert, 1900-1977

 

19 comments:

Roger Owen Green said...

The song Autumn Leaves comes to mind...

Jinksy said...

Nice to find a smattering of French to keep the grey cells active! Thanks :-)

brudberg said...

The ballet of those October Ballerinas can be mesmerizing.. what great poetry to share.

Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil said...

I love this song! Will try to find the melody online. Thanks for this post, Berowne! I love good lyrics... Amy

Kathe W. said...

lovely post-one of my favorite songs this time of year!

Other Mary said...

What a lovely and a bit sad, with thoughts of endings, song and season. Thank you, B.

Gail said...

These words are beautiful sad and timeless.

Thanks for visiting.

Unknown said...

Hi Berowne

Your entry put a smile on my face as i not realised immediatly that you meant autumn ;-)

Thank you for participating again ofcourse, Hope to may greet you next week again.

Have a nice abc-day/week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (abc-w-team)

photowannabe said...

The words are so moody and sad but oh how I love the leaves dancing by your window. That is truly music to my soul.

Photo Cache said...

You have a way with words. Such a wonderful talent to have.

My ABC WEDNESDAY

Leslie: said...

J'aime les mots de ce chanson plus en francais. Ce n'est pas la meme chose en Anglais. Bon automne!

Leslie
abcw team

Berowne said...

Merveilleux...

Deepa said...

That poem is so beautiful, it is sure to bring that special person in mind while reading

Beat About the Book said...

Aw I'm beginning to miss the quiz. I like your ode to autumn though.

Leovi said...

Nice song!
My tribute:
http://lafotografiaefectistaabstracta.blogspot.com.es/2011/11/fotos-abstractas-19731-1974-1975-les.html




Limbo Delirium
Black & White Abstracts

21 Wits said...

Beautiful post, and what a wonderful thing to have happen right outside your window! Bravo to all the folks that perform such magical moments!

Berowne said...

After the dancing leaves comes the incredible noise: the leaf-blower!

Su-sieee! Mac said...

The sea erases, but also brings their love into the larger sea of love.
The View from the Top of the Ladder

Theresa Milstein said...

I can see the sounds are even more beautiful in the original language.

 
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