Le vingt-deux septembre [English translation]

One twenty second of September you disappeared

and since then, every year, on the above-mentioned date

I soaked my handkerchief, in memory of you...

Now, here we are again, but I am stone-faced

with not a single tear to to put in my eyes :

The twenty second of September, I don’t care at all about it today.

No-one will see any more at the time of dead leaves

this spirit in agony which looks like me and which bears

the mourning of each leaf in memory of you;

May the good Prévert and his snails be willing

to excuse me from the funerals of the leaves:

The twenty second of September, I don’t give a damn about it today.

Prevously opening my arms like a pair of wings

I rose to the heavens to follow the swallow

and broke my bones, in memory of you.

The Icarus complex has left me at present

the swallow parting no longer makes it autumn:

The twenty second of September, I don’t give a toss about it today.

Piously tied by a scrap of your lace,

I had a abunch of perennials on my window

watered with tears, in memory of you...

I’m off to offer them to the first departed who comes by,

eternal regrets are beyond me at present:

The twenty second of September, I couldn’t care less about it today.

From now on the little bit of heart I’ve got left

will no more go through the dreadful equinox

while going crazy in memory of you...

It has spat its flame and its cinders are going out

one could hardly roast four chestnuts on them:

The twenty second of September, today it means nothing to me.

And it’s sad to no longer be sad without you.