The Bronze Door

My temple dancer, from your lightness
I breathe in the perfume of ancient love
And the freshness of dawn awakening
In the East!

So as better to draw in the subtle fragrance
Of daybreak,
I go out onto the terrace
Of my Babylonian palace
That lies just opposite
The Bronze Door
From which the Sun will leap
Onto its golden chariot
Drawn by four immaculate mares
Harnessed with sparkling silver!

Lord Sun will be followed
On his celestial course
by the Hours
On the backs of these chestnut mares
With their cloths woven with rubies,
Amethysts, citrines, pearls
And emeralds immense as the hope
Of a new world,
A different world that will take its place
Among the monuments of Iran, India,
Sumer, Egypt,
Athens and Constantinople!

TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF THEO CRASSAS

TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF THEO CRASSAS ON DEC. 19TH, 2013