Le Cancre [English translation]

His head says no

but his heart says yes.

He says yes to what he loves

He says no to the teacher.

He's standing there,

being questioned,

and all the problems are posed.

Suddenly he gets the giggles.

He wipes the board clear of

the numbers and the words,

the dates and the names

the sentences and the traps.

Then, despite the teacher's threats,

and the jeers of the child prodigies,

with chalks of all colours,

on the black board of misfortune,

he draws the face of happiness.