The quenine of p Poem by Jacques Roubaud

A poetic form: the quenine of p


The quenine of p (where p is a rational number) is a generalisation of the quenine, a form invented by Raymond Queneau, who generalised the sestina of troubadour Arnaut Daniel.

In the following example p=3+1/2

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When, fallen from the sky, night
Catches itself, the sun's
Trace eludes itself
On the ground

Later when the sun
Breaks up the night
The angle of sea eludes itself
In the salt

Undefines itself, eludes itself
Ripped from the sun
Which catches the night
In water, naked

Tanslated by Claire Nashar