A Un Ami. (Translation) . Poem by Michael Walker
A Un Ami. (Translation) .
Vieil ami, cher ami, quelque jour
quand j'aurai dit ce que j'ai a dire, et le monde aura impose sa volonte,
quand tout ce qui reste c'est l'accumulation des restes,
et l'assemblee des amis,
a quelque soir d'automne quand les mulets sauteront
dans une mer de grise d'argent'
alors, O alors je reviendrai
rester aussi longtemps que je le puisse,
rester jusqu'a l'heure du sommeil;
contempler le roc qui mourut avant moi,
la mer qui vit toujours;
de l'air et de la lumiere du soleil, de la gelee et de la vague et du nuage,
et toute l'agonie rappelee et la joie
faconneront mon linceul.
-' To a Friend'. Allen Curnow(1911-2011) .
The whole poem is one long, periodic sentence, which makes for elegant style. It is addressed to a close friend of his, telling him that he will come again to stay with him to stay 'as long as I may'. Stay until it is time to sleep and gaze at the rock that died before him and 'the sea that lives forever'.
Allen Curnow's father, Rev. Tremayne Curnow was an Anglican Minister in and around Christchurch. Allen studied for the ministry himself, but did not proceed to ordination. He worked as a journalist on 'The Press' in Christchurch for many years, before moving to Auckland to lecture in English at Auckland University. He was one of my lecturers in Stage 1 English in 1963, specializing in Robert Browning's poetry. I had a lifelong interest in Browning thanks to him.
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5/5/2024 11:20:25 PM # 1.0.0.1119
Loved reading it. This is philosophical as well as an emotional piece of Allen's poetry. Thanks, Michael, for sharing the same.