Pierre Reverdy: "For the Moment"

 
Life is simple and gay
The bright sun rings with a quiet sound
The sound of the bells has quieted down
This morning the light hits it all
The footlights of my head are lit again
And the room I live in is finally bright

Just one beam is enough
Just one burst of laughter
My joy that shakes the house
Restrains those wanting to die
By the notes of its song

I sing off-key
Ah it’s funny
My mouth open to every breeze
Spews mad notes everywhere
That emerge I don’t know how
To fly toward other ears

Listen I’m not crazy
I laugh at the bottom of the stairs
Before the wide-open door
In the sunlight scattered
On the wall among green vines
And my arms are held out toward you

It’s today I love you

"For the Moment" by Pierre Reverdy, from Selected Poems by Pierre Reverdy, translated from the original French by Kenneth Rexroth (New Directions, 1969). No bookseller information available for this edition. Text as presented on Read a Little Poetry (12/25/2014).

Art credit: "House Front Door Open," image by unknown photographer.