Exaltation ecclésiale (en anglais)

ENGLISH :

Ecclesial Exaltation

For Desmond Egan

You, my closest neighbour,

You exceed my liveliest hope,

You are present to me as if it were myself.

I’d like to give you the fine fruits of my orchard,

The luxuriant flowers from my garden,

The song of the blue tits that adorns the blue morning sky,

The house of my grandparents,

The ethereal country home of my childhood.

You preside over this day,

Part of the dynasty of love.

The sumptuous citadel

Where the scrolls are kept

Of all the hymns exalting Life!

Even without seeing you, I recognise your breath,

You who are the circle of taciturn knowledge,

The elegant line joining

Heart with heart!

I mould my face to yours,

I surround your name with balm,

I close over your words

Like a flower closes in on itself.

For,

Within the weaving

Of great new beginnings,

You, my impalpable cousin, are

The long road of the soul

Which ends in the soul itself!

Translated from the French of Athanase Vantchev de Thracy by Norton Hodges