Here, Still Here

Here, in the site of light. No longer dawn,
But long to day with dicibles desires.
Mirage melodic reverie remains
But scintillation’s stones to be transpires.

Here, even to the eve. The rose of shades
Will turn to tick the walls. The rose of time
Will noiselessly detone. The shining slabs
At will will pace today enamored strides.

Here, still here, still. Stones upon the stones
Have cobbled up the country of recall.
So hardly sound the simple fruits to fall
Enfevers yet in you time goes to heal.

—Yves Bonnefoy (trans: Mark Daniel Cohen)

© Mark Daniel Cohen—Nietzsche Circle, 2007

(published in Hyperion: On the Future of Aesthetics, a web publication of The Nietzsche Circle: www.nietzschecircle.com, October 2007)