How Calm the Night

How calm the night, how calm

the penetrating sky.

As though in your palm it were tracing

again the first design.

The little fountain sings

to hide its excited nymph. . . .

One feels the emptiness

that space is drinking in.

16

Quel calme nocturne, quel calme

nous pénètre du ciel.

On dirait qu’il refait dans la palme

de vos mains le dessin essentiel.

La petite cascade chante

pour cacher sa nymphe émue . . . .

On sent la présence absente

que l’espace a bue.