The Albatross
Often the idle mariners at sea
Catch albatrosses, vast birds of the deep,
Companions which follow lazily
Across the bitter gulfs the gliding ship.
They’re scarcely set on deck, these heavenly kings,
Before, clumsy, abashed, full of shame,
They piteously let their great white wings
Beside them drag, oar-like, and halt and lame.
See this winged traveller, so awkward, weak!
He was so fine: how droll and ugly now!
One sailor sticks a cutty in his beak,
Another limps to mock the bird that flew!
The Poet’s like the monarch of the clouds
Who haunts the tempest, scorns the bows and slings;
Exiled on earth amid the shouting crowds,
He cannot walk, for he has giant’s wings.
Charles Baudelaire
Translated by Joanna Richardson
Reflection on L’Albatros by Robert Luongo
Ses ailes de géant l’empêchent de marcher.
Some years ago I had been living in Spain
And restlessness overcame me, and I searched the horizon.
“I shall visit my friend in England:
“He resides in a hamlet outside of town.”
The savant was silent then said no not to go.
“He is the person to see if you need crutches,
“What you need are wings!”
