Prague: Saint Nicholas Church On The Lesser Side Poem by Michel Galiana

Marble and onyx are entwined, like in a tress.
In high-perched cupola and triple pediments
Where saints wield their crosses and their tools of torment
Surface and volume are of harmony possessed.

They usher in the pomp, overflowing with gold,
Of a choir whose peaceful ceilings display pictures
With monstrous contortions of Christmas crib figures
And rhythm has redeemed from chaos this wild horde.

A tempest inhabits the pulpit and hits it
And would scatter it to pieces, but for a fist
That holds it and its own strong ruling enforces.

Fall in heavens engulfed, combat that never ceased,
When unleashing their strength and their zeal arousing,
The tamer teases, leads and muzzles his instincts.

SAINT NICOLAS DE MALA STRANA

Les marbres et l'onyx tressés comme la corde,
La lanterne juchée et les triples frontons
Où brandissent les saints leurs croix et leurs bâtons
Des masses et des pans maîtrisent la concorde.

Pour ouvrant la splendeur d'un choeur dont l'or déborde
Qu'aux plafonds apaisés s'étalent les cartons
Et posent contournés de monstrueux santons
Dont le rythme au chaos sut arracher la horde.

Une tempête habite la chaire et la bat
Et, si ne la tenait, la jeterait à bas,
Un poing qui son vouloir impose, presse, scelle -

Chute aux cieux engloutie, inlassable combat,
Quand déchaînant la force et réveillant le zèle,
Le dompteur ses instincts fouaille, mène, muselle.