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Philippe Jacottet

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The Last Quarter of Night

Outside the room of radiant
pink embers, of embraces
the fugitive pointed
to Orion, the Great Bear, the Umbel
in the shadow that went with him

Then again in the light,
by the light even spent,
across day towards earth
this charge of doves

*

Where earth ends
lofted nearest to air
(in the light where the invisible
dream of God wanders

between stone and revery

this snow: vanished ermine

*

O partner of the darkness
hear what its ash is listening to
the better to yield to fire:

abundant waters falling
to the depth of grass and rock
and the first birds praise
the ever longer day
the light ever more near

*

Without entering the fenced winter woods
you can take hold
of the one light bound to come:
it is not a glowing stake
nor a lamp hanging from the branches

It is the day upon the bark
love that spreads
perhaps divine light
to which the axe gives strength

 

Translated by Paul Auster

Page(s) 22-23

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