Distribution Automatique

Saturday, December 13

The Soul Indrawn
Stephane Mallarme
(tr. Roger Fry)


All the soul indrawn
When slowly we exhale it
In many rounds of smoke
Lost in other rounds

Proves that some cigar
Burns skilfully how-so little
Its ash withdraws itself
From the clear kiss of fire

So the choir of songs
Flies it to your lip
Exclude if you begin
The real as being base

Its too sharp sense will overscrawl
Your vague literature

New Directions
1951