Leon-Paul Fargue

French poet and essayist Leon-Paul Fargue (1876-1947) was born in Paris. Richard Howard translated these poems for the Mark Morris Dance Group.

RAT'S SONG

Abi Abiroune
Who were you today?
A white amoeba
A busy protozoan
Keeping an eye on daddy
Fizzy protozoan

THE AMERICAN FROG

The American frog
Watches me over
His timber goggles
His eyes are dim toddies
Scraped clear as glass

I recall Casadesus
Who played no music
For that love scene
Nostalgically redolent
Of all our old trysts

Tame Argus, you guard
The soul of boastful Toad
O Bubbly, watching over
Me with your golden specs

CAT'S SONG

Pretty kitty Witty cat
Tell me where your mama's at
Tell me where your daddy's gone
Put my Whitie's nightie on
Velvet claws Velvet jaws
Itty Bitty Kitty-cat

Up on the sill Cellar down
Silvery dill Celadon
Hobbled birds Gobbled mice
Vanished with a strange device:
Velvet claws Velvet jaws
Itty Bitty Kitty-cat