Clair de lune (tr. Faulkner)

by Paul Verlaine

For other English-language translations of this work, see Clair de lune (Verlaine).

CLAIR DE LUNE.

From PAUL VERLAINE.

Your soul is a lovely garden, and go
There masque and bergamasque charmingly,
Playing the lute and dancing and also
Sad beneath their disguising fanchise.

All are singing in a minor key
Of conqueror love and life opportune,
Yet seem to doubt their joyous revelry
As their song melts in the light of the moon.

In the calm moonlight, so lovely fair
That makes the birds dream in the slender trees,
While fountains dream among the statues there;
Slim fountains sob in silver ecstasies.

— W. FALKNER.