Celle que tu crois [English translation]

In the sunlight of a mystery

I unfurl my sails

and defy weather and time1.

And I am this background,

and I am this landmark

ruffled by the winds.

I listen to the talks

and I flash a smile

to these words I hear.

To the one who buys me,

to the one who sells me.

Here's to2 the tune of my language

and the names of my trees

and the love of my people,

those who sowed3 me so much

those [whose names are] etched in marble,

who shed their blood for us.

All those who bestowed

love upon me, and these brothers

who were strangers at first,

those whom I recognized

as soon as they showed up.

(But who might know that?)

To dispell doubts,

would that there was a sky,

whould that there was a song,

an ear to listen to

the secret of a voice,

the words of a child

who would tell over the roofs,

in the streets, on the roads

what happiness looks like,

[this happiness] I write about in the spring.

Would that there was a brother

to dispell doubts.

Would that there was a song,

an ear to listen to

the secret of a voice,

the words of a child

who would tell over the roofs

how unfit I am for you,

how different I am

from what you think I am4.

I changed crowns,

I changed flags

so many times in my life.

Do they even own a land,

do they have children, do they love,

all those who talk about me?

Do they know where I'm from,

do they know where I'm going,

and what would they have done?

Who I was, who I am,

do you know it, my friend?

But what doesn't kill you

makes you stronger and bolder5.

Pain taught me,

and it's on my back I carry

a star6, a sorrow, a silence, a challenge.

But on my doorstep

I turn this into an opportunity,

I turn this into a gift,

may love take us

even higher.

(But who might know that?)

To dispell doubts...

If you want a picture of me,

it's often from a bird'eye view

that you will meet me,

in the format of a watercolour,

with the scent of an everlasting7

and on glazed paper.

If you want to find me,

it's in the news items

that my name is mentioned.

That's how I remain quiet and dignified

on the front page.

To dispell doubts...

If you're looking for my soul,

it's from the stuff of Africa and Orient

that my land is wowen.

Although I carry as I walk forth

the flame and our roots8

and everything that binds us

to all those who left,

whom I failed to win over,

whom I want to meet again,

whom I failed to win over,

whom I want to meet again,

those who walked across me9

looking for a sun

and gave so much to me,

all those who bestowed

love upon me, and these brothers

who were strangers at first,

those who walked through me

looking for a sun

and gave so much to me,

those whom I came to know

and adopted.

To dispell doubts...

1. since "temps" can have both meanings, I assume using the plural implies he defies both2. This lengthy sentence sounds unfinished to me, except if the meaning is "[I sing for] the tune of my language...3. I suppose the locutor is liberty at the moment?4. frankly I don't understand what he's alluding to5. Ah well, now for a bit of social darwinism...6. ??? possible allusion to the soah ???7. the French name of the flower is "immortal"8. again this huge sentence seems unfinished to me. I fear the translation will sound like gibberish, but I won't invent some articulations where I can't see any in the original9. the locutor is Corsica now, I guess?