naked truth

Paul Éluard
(1895-1952)
Capitale de la douleur

The camera "reads" this poem in the film "Alphaville", directed by Jean-Luc Godard

Nudité de la vérité
«Je le sais bien»

Le désespoir n'a pas d'ailes,
L'amour non plus,
Pas de visage,
Ne parlent pas,
Je ne bouge pas,
Je ne les regarde pas,

Je ne leur parle pas
Mais je suis bien aussi vivant que mon amour
[et que mon désespoir.]


Naked Truth
«I know it well»

Despair has no wings
nor does love
no faces;
they don't speak
I do not move
I don't look at them

I don't speak to them
but I am as alive as my love and despair.



*I have not seen the film "Alphaville," nor translated this poem, but I do love to place them side by side when I can as it makes the poetry and the meaning behind those words so much more beautiful.

~Calli