And now, poetry.

This poem, denouncing war and religion, is obviously written in a very high level French. Here we’re aiming for comprehension and sound reproduction. Try to use the player to copy how the words are said, paying attention to liaisons (merging words together for fluidity) and rhythm. Some grammar points follow.

The words given in English are to give you an idea of the meaning. For a complete translation word order would have to be rearranged, rhyme and rhythm conserved and much more.

The reading – the reader of this poem seems to get a little carried away in the joy of reading and doesn’t really give the poem the harsh strictness of tone it seems to deserve in my mind. See what you think.

Le mal

Tandis que les crachats rouges de la mitraille (While – red spittle – machine gun)
Sifflent tout le jour par l’infini du ciel bleu ; (Whistle – all day – blue sky)
Qu’écarlates ou verts, près du Roi qui les raille, (While scarlet or green – near – king who jeers them)
Croulent les bataillons en masse dans le feu ; (Crumble – into the fire)

Tandis qu’une folie épouvantable, broie (While – dreadful madness – crushes)
Et fait de cent milliers d’hommes un tas fumant ; (And makes of – a smoking heap)
− Pauvres morts ! dans l’été, dans l’herbe, dans ta joie, (Poor dead – summer – grass – joy)
Nature ! ô toi qui fis ces hommes saintement !… (you who made these men – saintly)

− Il est un Dieu, qui rit aux nappes damassées (laughs – altar cloths)
Des autels, à l’encens, aux grands calices d’or ; (altars – incense – great golden chalices)
Qui dans le bercement des hosannah s’endort, (who in the cradling – of hosannah’s – sleeps)

Et se réveille, quand des mères, ramassées (And awakes – when mothers – brought together)
Dans l’angoisse, et pleurant sous leur vieux bonnet noir, (Anguish – crying under – black hat)
Lui donnent un gros sou lié dans leur mouchoir ! (Give him – large coin – knotted – handkerchief)

- Tandis que is a high-register (posh) way of saying while.
- Punctuation: in French there is a space before semi-colons and exclamation marks, among others.
- Lui donnent on the last line refers to the mères, two lines previously. Notice how it affects the way the verb donner is conjugated – ent is the ending for they, ils donnent à lui, ils lui donnent, they give him (ie. they give to God…)

If anyone wants to try and do a complete translation of the poem in the comments below, they are more than welcome to try. It’s great learning exercise because you have to dissect the grammar. I’ll give feedback for any translation attempts. The best translation will win entitlement to a free 5-minute practice conversation via Skype.