Poem by Jacques Prévert

Published october 8, 2005 08:03

Remember Barbara
It rained endlessly on Brest on that day
And you walked smiling
Radiant enchanted dripping-wet
In the rain
Remember Barbara
It was raining endlessly on Brest
And I came across you in the Rue de Siam
You were smiling
And I smiled the same
Remember Barbara
You whom I did not know
You who did not know me
Remember
Remember even though that very day
Forget not
A man, under a porch, was sheltering
And he called your name
Barbara
And you ran towards him in the rain
Dripping-wet enchanted radiant
And you threw yourself into his arms
Remember that, Barbara
And do not resent it if I call you: "tu"
I say "tu" to everyone I love
Even if I have seen them only once
I say" tu" to all who love each other
Even if I do not know them
Remember Barbara
Forget not
The quiet and happy rain
Hereon your happy face
Hereon the happy town
The rain hereon the merry sea
On the arsenal
On the shuttle boat to Ushant
Oh Barbara
What a bloody farce the war
What's become of you now
In the rain of iron
Of fire, of steel of blood
And the one who clasped you in his arms
Lovingly
Is he now dead, missing, or still alive
Oh Barbara
It's raining endlessly on Brest
As it rained before
But now it is not the same, and all set abased
It is a rain of mourning, terrible and desolate
Now it is even no longer the storm
Of iron, of steel of blood
Merely clouds
That go coma like dogs
Dogs that go missing
Along the current over Brest
And will go pouring in the far
In the very far away from Brest
Of which there is nothing left.