Poème pour la mémoire d'une femme

Charlotte Forten Grimké

 

Où est-elle allée ? Et qui est là pour le dire ?

Mais cela nous le savons : son doux esprit bouge

Et se trouve là où la beauté ne faiblit pas,

Au gré d'autres courants, au milieu d'autres bosquets ;

Et pour nous là-bas, ah ! elle reste

Un  magnifique souvenir

Jusqu'à l'éternité ;

Elle est venue, elle a aimé, et puis elle s'en est allée.

 

 

 

To Keep the Memory of Charlotte Forten Grimké

 

Angelina Weld Grimké

Still are there wonders of the dark and day:
   The muted shrilling of shy things at night,
      So small beneath the stars and moon;
   The peace, dream-frail, but perfect while the light
      Lies softly on the leaves at noon.
         These are, and these will be
             Until eternity;
But she who loved them well has gone away.

Each dawn, while yet the east is veiléd grey,
   The birds about her window wake and sing;
      And far away, each day, some lark
   I know is singing where the grasses swing;
      Some robin calls and calls at dark.
         These are, and these will be
             Until eternity;
But she who loved them well has gone away.

The wild flowers that she loved down green ways stray;
   Her roses lift their wistful buds at dawn,
      But not for eyes that loved them best;
   Only her little pansies are all gone,
      Some lying softly on her breast.
         And flowers will bud and be
             Until eternity;
But she who loved them well has gone away.

Where has she gone? And who is there to say?
   But this we know: her gentle spirit moves
      And is where beauty never wanes,
   Perchance by other streams, mid other groves;
      And to us there, ah! she remains
         A lovely memory
             Until eternity;
She came, she loved, and then she went away.