En Manches De Chemise. (Translation) . Poem by Michael Walker
En Manches De Chemise. (Translation) .
Des apres-midis en manches de chemise
se tournent vers le cuir comme les arbres
rougissent, repandent les derniers
peu de brins brillants a cote du gand coeur blesse du Sud.
La coupe d'esprit derive
en bas de la grande route etincellee de la lune de l'etang.
Du rire au loin, des ombres.
L'amour ou du poison? Ton tour. Bois
aux latitudes trempees pas les etoiles.
- ' Shirt Sleeved'. Rita Dove b.1952.
This short poem is suggestive and obscure in parts. A couple are together in shirt sleeves watching the trees gradually change 'across/ the great bruised heart of the South'. 'The spirit cup' is not easy to interpret. But there is a pond nearby lit up by the moon.
Laughter is heard in the distance. Does he want love or poison (which I think means strong alcohol) ? It is his turn to decide. The last line is scintillating: 'Drink/ to the star-drenched latitudes'.
When I think deeply and analytically, I like this poem very much. It challenges me.
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 9:14:09 PM # rel_20260827T145718Z_a0f1bd3
Thanks for the intro to Rita Dove, Michael
No trouble to me. I think Dove is a poet well worth studying and listening to on You Tube where she reads beautifully, I think.