Un papillon de paille habitait un crâne de chien
O couleurs ô jachère ô danse!
J’aime quand tu t’étonnes
Arcade sourcilière almée de l’amoureuse.
A butterfly made of straw lodged in a dog’s skull
O colors o fallow land o dance!
I like to see you amazed
Eyebrow arch the lover’s Egyptian dancing girl.
Translated from the French by Nancy Naomi Carlson
Translator’s note: “Mamouque” was the nickname of Georgette Goldstein, Char’s first wife.