LITERARY WORK INTRODUCTION HUNGARY By The Danube written by Attila József is one of the most famous poems in Hungarian literature. The Danube is the longest river in the European Union. The river originates in the Black Forest in Germany and flows into the Black Sea via the Danube Delta in Romania and Ukraine. The river runs 2850 km until the Black Sea. The length of its main branch is 417 km in Hungary. The Tisza written by Sándor Petőfi is a poem that all Hungarian students have to recite by heart. The Tisza is the longest tributary of the Danube, one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It originates in Ukraine, flows partially along the Romanian border, enters Hungary at Tiszabecs, marks Slovak-Hungarian border, passes through Hungary, and falls into the Danube in Serbia. Its length is 962 km. The Spring Wind Blows The Waters is the best-known folk song in Hungary. It is taught in music lessons already in the junior section of primary school. Everybody knows its lyrics and melody.
A DUNÁNÁL Attila Jószef
1 A rakodópart alsó kövén ültem, néztem, hogy úszik el a dinnyehéj. Alig hallottam, sorsomba merülten, hogy fecseg a felszín, hallgat a mély. Mintha szívemből folyt volna tova, zavaros, bölcs, és nagy volt a Duna. Mint az izmok, ha dolgozik az ember, reszel, kalapál, vályogot vet, ás, úgy pattant, úgy feszült, úgy ernyedett el minden hullám és minden mozdulás. S mint édesanyám, ringatott, mesélt s mosta a város minden szennyesét. És elkezdett az eső cseperészni, de mintha mindegy volna, el is állt.
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És mégis, mint aki barlangból nézi a hosszú esőt - néztem a határt: egykedvű, örök eső módra hullt, színtelenül, mi tarka volt, a mult. A Duna csak folyt. És mint a termékeny, másra gondoló anyának ölén a kisgyermek, úgy játszadoztak szépen és nevetgéltek a habok felém. Az idő árján úgy remegtek ők, mint sírköves, dülöngő temetők. 2. Én úgy vagyok, hogy már százezer éve nézem, amit meglátok hirtelen. Egy pillanat s kész az idő egésze, mit százezer ős szemlélget velem. Látom, mit ők nem láttak, mert kapáltak, öltek, öleltek, tették, ami kell. S ők látják azt, az anyagba leszálltak, mit én nem látok, ha vallani kell. Tudunk egymásról, mint öröm és bánat. Enyém a mult és övék a jelen. Verset írunk - ők fogják ceruzámat s én érzem őket és emlékezem. 3. Anyám kún volt, az apám félig székely, félig román, vagy tán egészen az. Anyám szájából édes volt az étel, apám szájából szép volt az igaz. Mikor mozdulok, ők ölelik egymást. Elszomorodom néha emiatt -ez az elmúlás. Ebből vagyok. "Meglásd, ha majd nem leszünk! ..." - megszólítanak. Megszólítanak, mert ők én vagyok már; gyenge létemre így vagyok erős, ki emlékszem, hogy több vagyok a soknál, mert az őssejtig vagyok minden ős -az Ős vagyok, mely sokasodni foszlik: apám - s anyámmá válok boldogon, s apám, anyám maga is ketté oszlik 2
s én lelkes Eggyé így szaporodom! A világ vagyok - minden, ami volt, van: a sok nemzedék, mely egymásra tör. A honfoglalók győznek velem holtan s a meghódoltak kínja meggyötör. Árpád és Zalán, Werbőczi és Dózsa -török, tatár, tót, román kavarog e szívben, mely e multnak már adósa szelíd jövővel - mai magyarok! ... Én dolgozik akarok. Elegendő harc, hogy a multat be kell vallani. A Dunának, mely mult, jelen s jövendő, egymást ölelik lágy hullámai. A harcot, amelyet őseink vívtak, békévé oldja az emlékezés s rendezni végre közös dolgainkat, ez a mi munkánk; és nem is kevés.
BY THE DANUBE trans. Zsuzsanna Ozsváth & Frederick Turner 1. On the wharf's lowest step where I was sitting I watched a melon rind drift with the flow. I scarcely heard, drowned in my meditating, the chatter of the surge, the quiet below. As if poured from the dark heart in my body the Danube ran, as grand and wise and muddy. Like muscles of a working man - whoever shovels, hammers, saws, works the brick-clay the turbid waves of the unending river so crack, so tense, so slacken, so give way; and motherlike it rocked and sang to me, and washed the city's filth down to the sea. And then a misty drizzle started splotching, and then, as casually, it ceased to fall. Yet still, as from a cavemouth I were watching an endless rain, I gazed out at it all: unchecked, the many-colored past fell by, as does the indifferent water from the sky.
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The Danube simply flowed. As on a fecund absent-minded mother's lap a child, so played its little foam-floats, every second rising in chuckles when it seemed she smiled; on time's flood-tide they quivered, tilted, jarred, like gravestones all akimbo in their yard. 2. I am made thus: what for a thousand ages I've looked upon, now suddenly I see. A flash, time's tally is wound up, the pages a thousand ancestors have read with me. I see what they could not in their distraction, who delved, killed, kissed, wrought under time's duress. And they, sunk in the matter-world of action, see what I do not see, I must confess. We know each other, as do joy and sorrow, what's presentness for them is past for me. They hold my pencil - we, together, borrow this poem from their present memory. 3. My mother was a Kun,* my father Magyar in part, perhaps Rumanian in full. My mother's mouth gave me the sweetest nectar, my father's mouth, the truth as beautiful. If I but stir, they do embrace each other. It grieves me sometimes when I think of how time flies, decays. Such matter is my mother. "You see when we are not! ..." they tell me now. They speak to me, my being's patrimony, in this my weakness, thus I may be well, recalling that I'm greater than the many, each of my ancestors in every cell I am the Ancestor, in my division I multiply, blithely turn dam and sire, and they achieve their double parturition, many times many making one self fire! I am the world, what is and what is fading, all nations that contend on hill and plain, 4
I die with every conqueror, invading, and suffer with the conquered in their pain. My heart swells with them, the past's helpless debtor: Árpád, Werböczi, Dózsa, and Zalán,** Rumanian, Turk, Slovakian, and Tatar, gentle future of each Hungarian! ... I must have work. Would it were task sufficient that one confess the past. The ripples of the Danube, that is future, past, and present, fondle and hold each other in their love. Our forebears' struggle, with its strife and slaughter, remembrance melts and renders into peace: our common labors now to set in order, were pains enough to be our masterpiece.
Kun: i.e. Cumanian, Hungarian of ancient Turkish descent. ** Hungarian and Bulgarian historical figures.
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Petőfi Sándor: A Tisza (Magyar) Sándor Petőfi: The Tisza (Angol) Nyári napnak alkonyúlatánál Megállék a kanyargó Tiszánál Ott, hol a kis Túr siet beléje, Mint a gyermek anyja kebelére.
When in the dusk a summer day had died, I stopped by winding Tisza's river-side, just where the little Túr flows in to rest, a weary child that seeks its mother's breast.
A folyó oly símán, oly szelíden Ballagott le parttalan medrében, Nem akarta, hogy a nap sugára Megbotoljék habjai fodrába'.
Most smooth of surface, with most gentle force, the river wandered down its bankless course, lest the faint sunset-rays, so close to home, should stumble in its lacery of foam.
Síma tükrén a piros sugárok (Mint megannyi tündér) táncot jártak, Szinte hallott lépteik csengése, Mint parányi sarkantyúk pengése.
On its smooth mirror, sunbeams lingered yet, dancing like fairies in a minuet; one almost heard the tinkle of their feet, like tiny spurs in music's ringing beat.
Ahol álltam, sárga föveny-szőnyeg Volt terítve, s tartott a mezőnek, Melyen a levágott sarju-rendek, Mint a könyvben a sorok, hevertek.
Low flats of yellow shingle spread away, from where I stood, to meat the meadow hay where the long shadows in the after-glow like lines upon a page lay row on row.
Túl a réten néma méltóságban Magas erdő: benne már homály van, De az alkony üszköt vet fejére, S olyan, mintha égne s folyna vére.
Beyond the meadow in mute dignity the forest towered o'er the darkening lea, but sunset rested on its leafy spires like embers red as blood and fierce with fires.
Másfelől, a Tisza tulsó partján, Mogyoró- s rekettye-bokrok tarkán, Köztök egy csak a nyilás, azon át Látni távol kis falucska tornyát.
Elsewhere, along the Tisza's farther bank, the motley broom and hazels, rank on rank, crowded, but for one cleft, through which was shown the distant steeple of the tiny town.
Boldog órák szép emlékeképen Rózsafelhők usztak át az égen. Legmesszebbről rám merengve néztek Ködön át a mármarosi bércek. Semmi zaj. Az ünnepélyes csendbe Egy madár csak néha füttyentett be, Nagy távolban a malom zugása Csak olyan volt, mint szunyog dongása. Túlnan, vélem átellenben épen, Pór menyecske jött. Korsó kezében. Korsaját mig telemerítette, Rám nézett át; aztán ment sietve. Ottan némán, mozdulatlan álltam, Mintha gyökeret vert volna lábam.
Small, rosy clouds lay floating in the sky in memory-pictures of the hours gone by. Far in the distance, lost in reverie, the misty mountain-summits gazed at me. The air was still. Across the solemn hush fell but the fitful vespers of a thrush. Even the murmur of the far-off mill seemed faint as a mosquito humming shrill. To the far bank before me, within hail, a peasant-woman came to fill her pale; she, as she brimmed it, wondered at my stay, and with a glance went hastily away. But I stood there in stillness absolute
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Lelkem édes, mély mámorba szédült A természet örök szépségétül. Oh természet, oh dicső természet! Mely nyelv merne versenyezni véled? Mily nagy vagy te! mentül inkább hallgatsz, Annál többet, annál szebbet mondasz. Késő éjjel értem a tanyára Fris gyümölcsből készült vacsorára. Társaimmal hosszan beszélgettünk. Lobogott a rőzseláng mellettünk. Többek között szóltam én hozzájok: "Szegény Tisza, miért is bántjátok? Annyi rosszat kiabáltok róla, S ő a föld legjámborabb folyója." Pár nap mulva fél szendergésemből Félrevert harang zugása vert föl. Jön az árvíz! jön az árvíz! hangzék, S tengert láttam, ahogy kitekinték. Mint az őrült, ki letépte láncát, Vágtatott a Tisza a rónán át, Zúgva, bőgve törte át a gátot, El akarta nyelni a világot!
as though my very feet had taken root. My heart was dizzy with the rapturous sight of Nature's deathless beauty in the night. O Nature, glorious Nature, who would dare with reckless tongue to match your wondrous fare? How great you are! And the more still you grow, the lovelier are the things you have to show! Late, very late, I came back to the farm and supped upon fresh fruit that made me warm, and talked with comrades far into the night, while brushwood flames beside us flickered bright. Then, among other topics, I exclaimed: "Why is the Tisza here so harshly blamed? You wrong it greatly and belie its worth: surely, it's the mildest river on the earth!" Startled, a few days later in those dells I heard the frantic pealing of the bells: "The flood, the flood is coming!" they resound. And gazing out, I saw a sea around. There, like a maniac just freed from chains, the Tisza rushed in rage across the plains; roaring and howling through the dyke it swirled, greedy to swallow up the whole wide world.
1847 /Translated by Kirkconnell Watson/
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Tavaszi szél vizet áraszt The Spring Wind Blows The Waters Hungarian folk song Tavaszi szél vizet áraszt, virágom, virágom*. Minden madár társat választ virágom, virágom. Hát én immár kit válasszak? Virágom, virágom. Te engemet, én tégedet, virágom, virágom.
The spring wind blows the waters*, my flower**, Every bird searches for a partner, my flower, And I, whom should I choose, my flower, I choose you, and you choose me, my flower.
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/Translated by Agnes Preszler/
*This literally means "the spring wind makes the waters rise" (because of the melting of the snow and the rainy spring weather) **My flower = my love
A Trip to Northern Hungary During our trip to Miskolctapolca we went rowing on Lake Hámori, in Lillafüred. It was summer and hot spell, the landscape was beautiful. There are mountain brooks and the monks who lived there settled trout into them many decades ago. Nowadays we can fish, boat, and in winter we can ice-skate on the frozen water of the lake. We returned back to Miskolctapolca after the boating on the sylvan narrow-gauge railway, where we swam in the cave bath known all over Europe. The halls of the cave were enlightened artificially. All halls had a separate name. My favourite one was called ’Observatory’, where the ceiling imitated the stars and the moon. Not only did we have a bath in the cave, but we also admired the beauties of the nature. The bath is surrounded by a huge park with beautiful oak trees, pine trees. We even saw a squirrel in the park!
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The flower parks, the fresh air and the cave bath ensured our pleasure, we really had a rest! Zsóka Horváth
Lake Hámori
Waterfall Lillafüred in winter
Győr, the Town of Rivers Hello. I’m Gabi. I’ve been living in Győr for eleven years. I’ll tell you something about the town of rivers. When we moved here, I couldn’t remember the names of the four rivers of the town. But now I know all of them: Mosoni-Danube, Rába, Rábca and Marcal. Mosoni-Danube is the biggest one. It’s a
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branch of the Danube. Rába joins them. Rába has two branches which surround an island: Radó-island. (It’s a very romantic place.) We have four bridges too: Rába-double bridge, Vasvári Pál bridge, Révfalusi bridge and Széchenyi bridge. Győr has a very good and famous thermal bath which is called Rába Quelle Spa. Its water is full of salts and minerals. You Tourists and local residents both like it. Besides we have two swimming-pools and one openair-pool. People use it mainly in summer. Oh, and my school is on the bank of the Mosoni-Danube. I just look out of the window and I can see how the river flows. Gabriella Szabó
Amusement on the lake in summer and in winter Everybody does a lot of sports on the lakes in summer and in winter, too. We have got a variety of water sports which we can do both in the open air and inside. I live in Tata, where there are two lakes. It is called the 'Town of Waters'. Here you can find the best training camp in Hungary. In summer you can do many water-sports. First you can swim in the 'Old Lake'. There is a ship which takes you around it. You should visit the castle on the bank of the lake. And if the weather isn't good, you should go to the training camp. It has got a swimming-pool with warm and cold pool, because in Tata there are so many hot springs. Lots of famous sportsmen come here to train. If the lake freezes over, all the young and old people go ice skating on it. It's very funny. But in the middle of the lake the ice sheet is thinner than anywhere else, because the 'Által brook' runs across the lake. When the weather is cold enough, it is frozen over. In January there was an ice skating championship. There were many programmes on the lake. So I love living there. In summer and in winter we have a lot of fun, too. I've never felt bored.
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If you have a little free time in summer or in winter you should take a visit in our town. Anna Fehér
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Lake Balaton Water is one of our most important vital elements. We are continuously contacted with it in our lives. Hungary is rich in water resources like rivers, lakes, underground water resources. Lake Balaton is also located in Hungary. It is the greatest lake of Central- Europe by its surface. On the western side of the lake there is a peninsula called Tihany. On it stands an ancient catholic abbey, which is a popular target of tourists from all over the world. From the peninsula we have a sight to the whole lake. Ferries start from Tihany to the southern regions of Balaton. Mountain Badacsony lies along the northern side. The grapes that are grown here are the base of the region’s wine culture, which is well-known because of its special wine, called „Badacsonyi Szürkebarát‖. Balaton is rich in holiday resorts. The northern side is famous for its beaches, because the water gets deeper more quickly than at the southern side, but it means that it is also cooler than there. The southern side is flat, the lake is shoal, but also warm. Siófok, the centre of the southern side is famous for its summer festivals, and youth programmes, that continues along the summer. Swimmers need to walk often long to reach the ideal depth of the lake. It may take 150 meters. The deepest point of the lake is known as „Tihanyi kút‖ with the depth of 12 meters. The length of the lake is 75 kilometres, its average width is between 5-12 kilometres. The temperature of the lake reaches the 23-24 Celsius at summertime. Every summer there is a swimming contest across Balaton, and of course, the lake is the centre of all wind-surfing sports. Balaton is the main summer target for Hungarian families and also for tourists from all the countries of the world. People come here to have a rest, to recharge their batteries, to have a party, to taste special and delicious Hungarian dishes, to go hiking, to get rid of stress and be with their relatives and friends. The tourism industry is well-developed, the hotels and camp-sites are well-prepared, and the habitants of the region are traditionally hospitable to tourists. Visitors can use most of the beaches for free, but somewhere they need to pay an entrance fee, that gives the opportunity to use extra services, that are provided by these beaches. The water is clean and tourists can choose from many activities,
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but it’s also important to know, that because of the will to keep the lake’s flora and fauna in balance, motorboats are not allowed to the lake. It is a good idea to take a walk to the piers in the sunset, and watch the swans, that are pretty used to tourists, and they often beg for some extra food. We need to know, that feeding them is not allowed. The sight of dozens of sailboats docked in the harbour is incredibly nice as the sun goes down. In the evenings we can hear music from all directions and the restaurants get filled. The youth goes into parties, and for those who would like to relax, it is a good idea to take a walk along the shore. Veronika Varga
H2O a source of life How often do you think about water? Probably only when you’re thirsty or need a bath. However, in our everyday life, water pollution is a serious problem. Next time you drink a glass of water, stop and think. In a few places of Hungary, drinking water is polluted so the people get bottled water or they can get water from a tank. For cooking or having a bath they have to boil the tap water. If they are not careful enough,they might become ill. Fortunately, the necessary steps have been taken to provide these settlements with good quality of drinking water. Furthermore, polluted beaches caused some problems many years ago. The water got very warm, and the eels in Lake Balaton didn’t have enough oxygen so a lot of them died and their bodies were floating on the water near the shore. After that the settling of eels to the lake was stopped. Nowadays, beaches are inspected and declared safe enough to swim in. Not only do animals or plants suffer from water pollution, but people do too. People have been poisoned by eating contaminated seafood. We should avoid incidents like this by buying only good quality goods.
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Whether we choose to think about or not, water pollution affects our everyday life. How much longer are we going to continue polluting our rivers and lakes before we realize it’s too late? Vanda Brugós
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PROVERBS Slow water washes away the bank. He preaches water and drinks wine. They are rowing in the same ship. He fishes in troubled waters. He couldn’t earn enough money to buy even cold water. If Vincent begins to flow, then the cellar will be full. (If the thaw sets in on Vincent day, then there will be a lot of wine in autumn.) A lot of water will flow in the Danube until then. (It is still far away.) A lot of water has run in the Danube since then. (It happened long ago.) He drives the water to the mill of somebody. (By his action – unintentionally – he plays into the hands of somebody.) He removes the baptismal water from somebody. (He curses somebody up and down.) A rain in May is golden. After rain comes raincoat. The Danube could be damned by them. (There are too many of them.) It will happen when the Danube reverts its course or dries up. He got out of the bucket and got into the pail. It’s difficult to swim against the stream. He has stirred up still water. / He has thrown a stone into still water. (He brought motion in a quiet life.) He whose place is on the gallows, will not die in the Danube. For a thirsty ox dirty water will do as well. Let’s pour clean water into the glass. Blood is thicker than water. Carry water to river Danube. = Carry coal to Newcastle.
Lassú víz partot mos. Vizet prédikál, bort iszik. Egy hajóban eveznek. Zavarosban halászik. Hideg vízre valót sem keresi meg.
Sok víz lefolyik még addig a Dunában. Sok víz lefolyt azóta a Dunában. Valaki malmára hajtja a vizet. Leszedi a keresztvizet valakiről. Májusi eső aranyat ér. Eső után köpönyeg. Dunát lehetne rekeszteni vele. Akkor fog megtörténni, ha a Duna visszafelé folyik vagy kiszárad. Csöbörből vödörbe esett. Nehéz az árral szemben úszni. Felkavarja az állóvizet.
Kinek akasztófa a helye, nem hal a Dunába. Szomjas ökörnek a zavaros víz is jó. Öntsünk tiszta vizet a pohárba. Vér nem válik vízzé. Vizet hord a Dunába.
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POEMS CALABRIA The poet illustrates in 3 stanzas the water course from the stream to the sea. The first stanza gives a feeling of freshness and energy. The second expresses the peace and slowness of the lake environment throw the use of several adjectives that slacken and lengthen the poem’s rhythm. In the third stanza the repetition of the word ―dies‖ and ―never dies‖ gives us the sensation of the wave movement and the vastness of the sea. THE WATER And water Fresh springs And makes streams It descends Falls on rocks Roars And swishes Making a river And water Unchained swims On valleys And long and slow Broad Silent Bright Making a lake And water In waves dies Never dies And dies Never dies And dies While immense Making the sea.
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ACQUA/WATER/EAU WISLAWA SZYMBORSKA L’ACQUA Sulla mano mi è caduta una goccia di pioggia, attinta dal Gange e dal Nilo, dalla brina ascesa in cielo sui baffi di una foca, dalle brocche rotte nelle città di Ys e Tiro. Sul mio indice il mar Caspio è un mare aperto, e il Pacifico affluisce docile nella Rudawa, la stessa che svolazza come nuvoletta su Parigi, nell’anno settecentosessantaquattro il sette maggio alle tre del mattino. Non bastano le bocche per pronunciare tutti i tuoi fuggevoli nomi, acqua. Dovrei darti un nome in tutte le lingue pronunciando tutte le vocali insieme e al tempo stesso tacere - per il lago che non è riuscito ad avere un nome e non esiste in terra - come in cielo non esiste la stella che si riflette in esso. Qualcuno annegava, qualcuno ti invocava morendo. E’ accaduto tanto tempo fa, ed è accaduto ieri. Spegnevi case in fiamme, trascinavi via case come alberi, foreste come città. Eri in battisteri e in vasche da cortigiane. Nei baci, nei sudari. A scavar pietre, a nutrire arcobaleni. Nel sudore e nella rugiada di piramidi e lillà. Quanto è leggero tutto questo in una goccia di pioggia. Con che delicatezza il mondo mi tocca. Qualunque cosa ogniqualvolta ovunque sia accaduta, è scritta sull’acqua di babele.
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WATER WISLAWA SZYMBORSKA A raindrop fell on my hand, crafted from the Ganges and the Nile, from the ascended frost of a seal's whiskers, from water in broken pots in the cities of Ys and Tyre. On my index finger the Caspian Sea isn't landlocked, and the Pacific flows meekly into the Rudava, the one that flew in a cloud over Paris in seventeen sixty four on the seventh of May at three in the morning. There are not enough lips to pronounce your transient names, O water. I would have to say them in every language pronouncing all the vowels at once, at the same time keeping silent—for the sake of a lake that waited in vain for a name, and is no longer on earth—as it is in the heavens, whose stars are no longer reflected in it. Someone was drowning; someone dying called out for you. That was long ago and yesterday. You extinguished houses; you carried them off like trees, forests like cities. You were in baptismal fonts and in the bathtubs of courtesans, in kisses, in shrouds. Eating away at stones, fueling rainbows. In the sweat and dew of pyramids and lilacs. How light all this is in the raindrop. How delicately the world touches me. Whenever wherever whatever has happened is written on the water of Babel.
EAU Voilà que sur ma main tombe une goutte de pluie, Répandue par le Gange et le Nil. Elévation du givre des moustaches d'un phoque, Fruit des cruches cassées dans les villes d'Ys et Tyr. Sur la poinnte de mon index La mer Caspienne est une mer ouverte, Et le Pacifique coule dans le lit de la Rudawa, La mmême qui survole Paris en petit nuage En mille sept cent soixante-quatre Le sept mai à trois heures du matin. La bouche n'y suffirait pour décliner Tous tes noms ondoyants, eau. Il faudrait te trouver un nom dans toutes les langues En prononçant ensemble toutes leurs voyelles
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Et se taire en m6eme temps - au nom d'un lac Qui n'a jamais pu obtenir un nom quelconque Et qui n'existe point sur terre, comme au ciel N'existe cette étoile qui s'y refléterait. Un qui se noie, un autre qui t'implore en mourant. C'était il y a longtemps, et c'était hier. Maisons tu éteignais, maisons tu emportais Comme des arbres, et forêts comme des villes. Dans les fonds baptismaux et les bidets des putes. Sur les langues et sur les linceuls. Grignotant les rochers, allaitant l'arc-en-ciel. Sueur et rosée des pyramides, des lilas. Que c'est léger, tout ca, dans une goutte de pluie Combien délicat est sur moi le toucher du monde. Quoi - quand - où que ce soit passé, Restera gravé dans l'eau de Babel. (1962)
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BELGIUM WATER WONDER After the rain appears the sun Here a rainbow comes Sun beams light on the sea And there a paradise will be Take a breath in that wind Which blows on flowers and palm tree Take a breath in the heart of the ocean Wherein you can hear the waves tone What could we do without water We could not live We could not love We could not ever enjoy the world wonder
Claire SANYU & Aurélie LECLERCQ (6e agent accueil tourisme)
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