Par quel chemin entrons-nous dans le désastre
à travers celui d'un arbre
érodé par la pluie, ébranlé par une secousse
de la terre qui ne peut fuir
nos cruautés, ce visage humain
débarrassé de lui-même;

par quel chemin les fleuves, l'herbe, l'oiseau
que nous sommes
ont-ils cessé de veiller sur eux-mêmes;

je ne sais pas encore

qui était et n'est plus
derrière nos regards;
qui nous sauvait
de nous-mêmes et ne nous sauve plus.

Translation:

By which road shall we enter the disaster
by the road of a tree
eroded by the rain, shaken
by an earthquake, unable to escape
our cruelties, that human face
disposed of itself;

By which road the rivers, the grass, the bird
which we are
did they stop to guarding themselves;

I still don't know

who was and is not anymore
behind our sights;
who saved us
of ourselves and does not save us anymore.

Helène Dorion, Québec
tr. Germain Droogenbroodt

 

Used by permission of the author. Helène Dorion is a well established poetic
voice in Québec. Her poems have been published as well in France and in Spain .
She is often seen as a participant at international poetry festivals.