Wednesday, June 3, 2009

The Albatross

The Albatross

 

Often the idle mariners at sea

Catch albatrosses, vast birds of the deep,

Companions which follow lazily

Across the bitter gulfs the gliding ship.

 

They’re scarcely set on deck, these heavenly kings,

Before, clumsy, abashed, full of shame,

They piteously let their great white wings

Beside them drag, oar-like, and halt and lame.

 

See this winged traveller, so awkward, weak!

He was so fine: how droll and ugly now!

One sailor sticks a cutty in his beak,

Another limps to mock the bird that flew!

 

The Poet’s like the monarch of the clouds

Who haunts the tempest, scorns the bows and slings;

Exiled on earth amid the shouting crowds,

He cannot walk, for he has giant’s wings.

 

Charles Baudelaire

Translated by Joanna Richardson

 

Reflection on L’Albatros by Robert Luongo

 

Ses ailes de gĂ©ant l’empĂȘchent de marcher.

Some years ago I had been living in Spain

And restlessness overcame me, and I searched the horizon.

“I shall visit my friend in England:

“He resides in a hamlet outside of town.”

The savant was silent then said no not to go.

“He is the person to see if you need crutches,

What you need are wings!”