TimeOut

Dearer to my heart than horology is poetry. Having been rereading lately some Saint-John Perse, I thought I'd share the last page of Chronique (in French & English translation), which I find very beautiful. It's a poem on old age written in 1959 (he was 7...  

I didn’t expect to hear about Saint-John Perse here, It even makes me break my silence. I’m from and still live on the island where he was born. Here for you, the museum named after him. ...  

I've never been in Guadeloupe, but would love to someday. And I love the poems where SJP evokes his childhood there. Best, Emmanuel

On l’étudie pas à l’école. Vis-tu à Paris ?

Mais c'est quand même grâce à ma professeure de français de 1ère que je l'ai découvert.

dans le Sud-Ouest!

Sometimes, it feels to me almost like American abstract expressionist painting (Joan Mitchell or Jackson Pollock). Hermetic but immensely powerful. My favorite pieces would be Praises (the specific section in the Praises book) and Chronique . Praises evok... 

Agree, based on the above, his poetry is complex. But for those who enjoy, it’s that depth of expression which can be very impactful.

Thanks for looking!

I have never heard of him before, nor do I read much poetry, but this is a beautiful passage (in your post), certainly resonates with me, and I will try to explore more of his writings.

He's not an easy poet to read: sometimes, it's a little like admiring abstract expressionist painting!

"Etroits sont les vaisseaux, étroite notre couche. Immense l’étendue des eaux, plus vaste notre empire Aux chambres closes du désir." I was a big fan of SJP then I got older & became lazy ;-) buying vintage watches & cars

I'm not into cars, but watches, they do make me dream, for sure... ...