From Mystérieuse
Sandra Doller translating the French of Éric Suchère
Excerpted from Mystérieuse, Anomalous Press Chapbook Contest Winner, available from Anomalous Press
click here for the Translator’s Note
21.
Night, white stars on black, town in blue relief, facades, roofs, chimneys: the figures walk on the line—observation of a beautiful night, unseasonable warmth.
Night, white stars on black, town in blue relief, facades, roofs, chimneys: the figures walk on the line, a star shoots in a white curve, bursts, the figure points his finger, the animal turns around, drops of sweat splash—a wish, a piece of advice.
Night, white stars on black, one star brighter, town in blue relief, facades, roofs, chimneys: the figures walk on the line to a street lamp in relief, simple strokes, the animal figure hits it head-on, crash and light spiral, ripples emit colored stars around—comment on a constellation.
Large vertical night, white stars on black, one star brighter, town in blue relief, facades, roofs, chimneys: the figure, stopped on the line, points his finger at the brighter star while the animal figure wanders, staggers in a series of scrolls and loops, colored stars around, drops of sweat splash—summons to look, question about the increased shining.
Large vertical night, white stars on black, one star brighter, town in blue relief, facades, roofs, chimneys: the figure, stopped on the line, looks at the star shining more while the animal figure stops, not understanding, small lines around, drops of sweat splash—amazement, and a question about the celestial phenomenon’s intensity.
Large vertical night, white stars on black, one star brighter, town in blue relief, facades, roofs, chimneys: the figures walk on the line—growing amazement, relativizing.
Street, sidewalks in straight lines, house, street lamp, long wall, house and leafless tree in relief behind, night above, white stars on black: two figures, jackets in hand, walk in the opposite direction of the two figures who walk into the space defined by the lines, drops of sweat splash—announcement of an action, looking for an answer.
Simple background, telephone wire in loops: the figure telephones, drops of sweat splash—questions about the celestial phenomenon as well as the warming.
Simple background, telephone wire in loops: the figure telephones, drops of sweat splash—question without an answer.
Sandra Doller’s books are Oriflamme (Ahsahta, 2005), Chora (Ahsahta, 2010), and Man Years (Subito, 2011). Newer projects include a forthcoming prose chapbook from CutBank called Memory of the Prose Machine (2013), part of a longer book-length and performance piece. The founder & editrice of 1913, Doller lives in San Diego with man & dogs.
Éric Suchère is a poet, writer, art critic, and art historian. Based in Paris, he is the author of many books of conceptual prose and poetry and a major player in contemporary French letters. His works have been translated into English by Lisa Robertson and Carrie Noland.
