Un Oiseau, avança dans l’Allée —
Je le voyais à son insu -
De son bec il coupa un Lombric
Qu’il avala, tout cru,
Puis, sur une Herbe à portée
Il but de la Rosée -
Puis, sautillant de biais jusqu’au Mur,
S’effaça devant un Scarabée -—
Il lançait des regards très vifs,
En hâte, tout alentour —
Ses yeux semblaient des Perles effarées,
Il secoua sa Tête de Velours. —
Comme en péril, Circonspect,
]e lui offris une Miette,
Alors il déplia ses plumes
Et rama vers son Nid -
Plus doucement que Rames, de l’Océan
Divisent l’argent lisse,
Ou que des Rives de Midi, plongent
Les Papillons, sans clapotis.
***
A Bird came down the Walk —
He did not know I saw —
He hit an Angle Worm in halves
And ate the fellow, raw,
And then, he drank a Dew
From a convenient Grass —
And then hopped sidewise to the Wall
To let a Beetle pass —
He glanced with rapid eyes,
That hurried all abroad —
They looked like frightened Beads, I though,
He stirred his Velvet Head —
Like one in danger; Cautious,
I offered him a Crumb,
And he unrolled his feathers,
And rowed him softer Home —
Than Oars divide the Ocean,
Too silver for a seam,
Or Butterflies, off Banks of Noon,
Leap, plashless as they swim.
(Emily Dickinson)
Illustration