The Yale Anthology of Twentieth-Century French Poetry

TRISTAN TZARA

you told me that I pity you
and I didn’t cry when you saw me, but I would have liked to cry in
the tram
you tell me I want to leave
the pearls of my throat’s tower were cold drum major for hearts
and slide
insects in the thought don’t bite me,

ah finger flower

the water barks




and if you like I’ll laugh like a waterfall and like a conflagration

VII

say: empty thought

quickly you know

I’ll be a

cello

VIII

I hold your coat when you leave as if you weren’t my sister

IX

in frosted steel

ring the bell

do you sleep when it’s raining?

X

the farm helpers wash the hunting dogs
and the king takes a walk followed by the judges who look like doves
at the sea side I also saw the bandaged tower with its sad
PRISONER
in the pits turn on the light
consequently
lord lord of ice
forgive me











XI

BIG TEARS slide along the draperies
horses’ heads on the basalt like