Des Canonniers Ivres. (Translation) . Poem by Michael Walker
Des Canonniers Ivres. (Translation) .
Les canonniers se deplacent comme des formes dans une danse
En harmonie a leur machine qui tue
Tout desinvolte au-dela des collines a l'ombre
Sous l'air bleu et resonnant en France.
Le conducteur passant les regarde a cote:
' Regardez les pauvres diables- completement souls.'
Cependant des corps stabilises en des adresses du terrain des manoeuvres
Corrigent l'intemperance de l'esprit chancelant.
A l'abri sous le feuillage d'ete a son aise,
La planche d'artillerie montee, le capitaine voit
Sa regle joindre deux points une lieu a part
Et jette la destruction aux hypotheses'
En voulant que l'amour eut des ministres comme ceux-ci
Pour frapper son ennemi distant au coeur.
- ' Drunken Gunners'.M. K. Joseph(1914-1981) .
A very good, restrained war poem. The captain expresses the poet's thoughts about war: 'Wishing that love had ministers like these/ To strike the distant enemy to the heart.' M.K.Joseph wrote from personal experience, having served in the artillery in World War 11.
You imply the contrast between the insensitive passing driver, and the reflective captain. It is 'an amazing war poem', at least partly because it is moderate in tone.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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8/29/2026 8:58:17 PM # rel_20260827T145718Z_a0f1bd3
Guns kill many and gunners run like as they rudely dance in harmony and such scene provokes thought and this is very sad. The passing driver looks next to them. Correcting the intemperance of the faltering mind is very much necessary. This is an amazing war poem very wisely penned and you have beautifully translated it....10