The Yale Anthology of Twentieth-Century French Poetry

VALENTINE PENROSE

glante, 1962). Principal works: Herbe à la lune, 1935; Le Nouveau Candide, 1936;

Sorts de la lueur, 1937; Dons de féminines, 1951; Les Magies, 1972.

The Rain Finding Once More

The rain finding once more what is lost
the sun finding what shines
great companions of my life.
On the brunette earth
I too have found my place.

To the entire spheres
moving the torments
through my gilded steps I go up go down.

And there the waters stand like blades
and I plunge mine in the cisterns’ depths
under my eyes false witness to the country of my being
in the room sleeping by my own light
among all the mirrors I shall remember.
—mary ann caws

At My Windows

At my windows no one has danced

the equator has left the snow

placeless the summons of embers.

At the balcony unblooming the bottles of ash
of golden thrush are lost the powers
earth’s drawing dull dress
this time is every time
the swords are put back
so haunted the nearby air plants have doubted.

But lucky the lady can move all in the sky
and the nights streaking linen thorns running
ash flowers on this side well lit
ivy wind ivy wind.
—mary ann caws