Jean Portante in Numéro Cinq

 

THE DESERT

Le désert compta ses rides et l’aigle et le
faucon répandirent, aussitôt la nouvelle.

— Edmond Jabès

it is due to the general indifference of
the grains of sand
that the desert came about
but also because the sand
knew how to remain gregarious

………………..*

to know that all the grains of sand
of all the deserts sleep in me
does not reassure me
like them every night
I get underway
searching for a dry dream
a dream which in order to defend us
would brave the meanders of humidity

………………..*

I went to station myself
on the line separating one desert from the other
to watch the grains of sand
getting married in secret
before crossing the border

………………..*

(ctd. here)