EUGÈNE GUILLEVICthies gave a particular slant to his verse. Guillevic was a distinguished translator
of German poets, notably Georg Trakl. Principal works: Exécutoire, 1947; Gagner,
1949; Trente et un sonnets, 1954; Carnac, 1961; Inclus, 1963; Sphère, 1963; Avec, 1966;
Euclidiennes, 1967; Ville, 1969; Paroi, 1970; Du domaine, 1977; Autres, 1980; Trou-
ées, 1981; Requis, 1983; Art poétique, 1989; Le Chant, 1990; Maintenant, 1993;
Possibles futurs, 1996.
When He’d Looked Hard
When he’d looked hard at all the monsters
And seen that all were made of the same old rags,
He could sit down calmly in a bright room
And see space.
He trembled at the light
And trembled at the boughs.
He chafed at the windows
And distrusted the birds.
He’d been unable to
Be more.
Speaking to the doll
Whose eyes reminded him
Of those he couldn’t find
And whose arms,
Held out one evening
He had broken.
Since for him crime tasted too strong
Though he greatly needed to destroy
Like it or not, he had to kill time
By razing the world with his eyes.
Stretched out on the moss and seeing that this day
Would be unique,