Leaving

An immobile traveler

My little shop is tucked away,

frozen to the spot at a snow-covered corner of the road.

Few are the warmly wrapped up clients

who venture here to serve their needs.

 

Waiting for them,

I can muse over this old, faded postcard,

which transports me far away,

to a warm, sunny country.

 

I see the colorful little bus swaying along with all its children.

Happy youth so far removed from our many sullen faces.

 

I only need to close my eyes, and,

with one leap I am amongst them.

 

Music, noise, jostling, laughter: a carefree life.

A short dream journey to my favorite landscapes,

which knows no bounds.

 

But the shop bell announces a customer,

I open one eye and go down.

 

He sees my blissful half-smile,

hurries to pay and goes out.

 

I can return to the children’s bus

and talk with the driver.

 

To stick an arm out, to spread your fingers to the wind,

what more could you ask for?

 

To be taken from time to time for a fool,

a visionary or to savor a coffee,

these are some snatched moments of happiness.

 

Will that be enough to get me through this too long winter?

 

Maybe, one day, I can open up a little shop, over there,

And hold a beautiful image of the Milky Way in my hand.

Translated from French by Kathy Janes