Raté [English translation]

A narrow failure, within a hair's breadth, just a word,

a couple of syllables

A close failure, one smile, one sigh too many,

one ugly rush of blood to the head.

A narrow failure, neither luck to blame nor this

empty and not so scrupulous God

A close failure, still pathetic and sublime and radiant

One step ahead, one step ahead toward Heavens

Alas, it is so short,

this repulsive life

What a dead end

Up there, I'm pacing around

Nobody ever comes to join me

Nobody, nor anything

A narrow failure, just one oath, one preaching too many

that sound hollow eventually

A close failure, a dispute, a vertigo, a jump

into the envious void.

A narrow failure, neither luck to blame nor this

empty and not so scrupulous God

A close failure, still pathetic and sublime and radiant

One step ahead, one step ahead toward Heavens

Alas, it is so short,

this repulsive life

What a dead end

Nearly a wizard of Oz,

a narrow failure indeed

How short and stale it is

this life of wandering

when I think about it

Up there, I'm pacing around

Nobody ever comes to join me

Nobody, nor anything

nor anything