Centre for Romanian Studies

Guy CHAMBELLAND (1927 – 1996)

QUAND LE COEUR TOUT D’UN COUP ME MANQUE

Quand le coeur tout d’un coup me manque, qui dois-je
me faire, eau ou pierre, pour m’habiter inhabitable?
Ne suis-je qu’une vieille, ne suis-je qu’un pitre?
Poème, statue sur l’eau, – mais moi?

Comme j’avançais encore, maladroit entre chiens et
roses, entre femmes et dieux, la mort me mit son bâton
dans le corps.

On peut me voir.
Il me tient debout.

Guy CHAMBELLAND,
(Poet Burgund: 1927 – 1996)

CAND BATAIA INIMII SE STINGE

Cand bataia inimii se stinge, ce voi
ajunge, stanca, sau val, ca sa traiesc in ne-traire?
N-as fi oare decat o baba? Sau poate o paiata?
Vers ridicat pe valuri, – dar eu-insumi?

Pasind nesigur printre caini si
roze, printre femei si zei, Moartea-mi infipse coasa
in trup.

Priviti
Cum ma tine-n picioare.

(in Romaneste de Constantin ROMAN,
Londra SW1, Iulie 2006)
——————————-

Guy CHAMBELLAND
(1927 – 1996)
Burgundy Poet

WHEN THE HEART SUDDENLY FAILS

When the heart suddenly fails, what should I
become, rock or sea wave, to inhabit the uninhabitable?
Am I not, in the end, an old woman, or perhaps a clown?
A poem, a sculpture on the crest of the wave – and I?

As I was awkwardly making my way between dogs and
roses, between women and gods, death staked its distaff
in my body.

You could see me
Still standing.

(rendered in English by Constantin ROMAN
London SW1, July 2006)