63

It’s good to rediscover lost amours

within us, or lay an affront to rest;

but if life lies heavy on your chest

you take it out of doors.

You throw the windows wide, go down into

the crowd: you’ll see that it takes little

to cheer you up: a game, an animal,

or, dressed in blue,

an errand-boy with a wheelbarrow, who cries

loudly as he can to keep the street open,

and, finding it even slightly downward sloping,

no longer runs but flies.

The people, with whom then the street is filling,

don’t keep quiet after they withdraw.

The more rumpus and fury he can cause,

the more he’ll swagger and sing.