Cold Spring in Winter (by Valérie Rouzeau)
Cold Spring in Winter (by Valérie Rouzeau)
Original Text
Valérie Rouzeau, Cold Spring in Winter: pas revoir, trans. Susan Wicks, intro. Stephen Romer (Todmorden, UK: Arc Pub., 2009). This
poem is reproduced on the Griffin Prize Web Site (from a volume on the 2010 International Shortlist).
1You dying on the phone my mum he will not last the night see dad.
2The train a dark rush under rain not last not die my father please oh please give me the get there soon.
3Not deadying oh not desperish father everlast get up run fast--
4Hand watch the time we’ve got to Vierzon outside it’s tipping hail.
5We miss each other I have no idea passing through Vierzon that in these train arrival times you’ve died.
6Not die oh please but everlast until the nurses’ corridor of white.
7Until your bed as fast the engine into Lyon la Part-Dieu.
8Until your forehead over now and all together in the little room and not forget.
9Tell me, daddy dear, dadarling, daddy poorling: do you remember my little horse?
10How it went round the table on its little kitchen wheels its mane our black hair streaming in the wind.
11How the tins of tea the saucepans danced so fine as how we went for it to dada laughing daddy rear until it all breaks up not say no getting away.
12Talk to you dad I managed a bit of daddychat a chitter ‘cause we didn’t have that much time.
13Outside the world its birds as white as planes, the barrier of sound.
14Your hands on the white sheet were growing yellow yellow.
15Surely they have no right to fly so low no right no fly so low you said.
16Even the whites of your eyes were even yellow so we two forgave each other everything.
17Okay when people ask I tell them fine especially when there are people round me yes I’m coping fine.
18You don’t see me in the grocer’s weeping over the potatoes.
19Nor waiting at the PO window when a portant package has to be packed off.
20I’m fine it goes I say without saying my head my head.
21It makes no sense your dying inwardly poor song.
22Some stamps I need and some potatoes please a book, a bag.
23Thanks a bundle.
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2011