Treason: Poems by Hédi Kaddour

Description

Hédi Kaddour’s poetry arises from observation, from situations both ordinary and emblematic—of contemporary life, of human stubbornness, human invention, or human cruelty. With Treason, the award-winning poet and translator Marilyn Hacker presents an English-speaking audience with the first selected volume of his work. The poetries of several languages and literary traditions are lively and constant presences in the work of Hédi Kaddour, a Parisian as well as a Germanist and an Arabist.  A walker’s, a watcher’s, and a listener’s poems, his sonnet-shaped vignettes often include a line or two of dialogue that turns his observations and each poem itself into a kind of miniature theater piece.  Favoring compact, classical models over long verse forms, Kaddour questions the structures of syntax and the limits of poetic form, combining elements of both international modernism and postmodernism with great sophistication. Capturing Kaddour’s full range of diction, as well as his speed, momentum, and tone, Marilyn Hacker’s translations brilliantly bring these poems alive. Contents Translator’s Preface Le Troupeau :: The Flock Arbres :: Trees Noces Du Chacal :: The Jackal’s Wedding La Détresse Spirituelle :: Spiritual Distress Trahison :: Treason Les Coquelicots :: Poppies Le Moulin :: The Mill Les Fileuses :: The Spinners La Gardeuse d’Oies :: The Goose Girl Le Serpent :: The Serpent La Fin Des Vendanges :: The End Of The Wine Harvest Jean-Paul De Dadelsen :: Jean-Paul De Dadelsen L’or Des Tigres :: Tigers’ Gold A Jean Follain :: To Jean Follain Les Petites Infamies :: The Little Disgraces Récréation :: Recess Septembre :: September Loin De Byzance :: Far From Byzantium Le Mètre Et Le Chagrin :: Meter And Grief La Pièce d’or :: The Gold Piece Le Double :: The Double Les Chiens :: The Dogs Le Veilleur :: The Night Watchman La Librairie Du Scarabée :: The Scarab Bookshop Le Chauffeur :: The Bus Driver Arènes De Lutèce :: Arènes De Lutèce La République :: Place De La République Parc De La Cité :: Parc De La Cité Déesse Du Printemps :: Goddess Of Spring La Demande :: The Question Eclaircie :: Jardin Du Luxembourg: Bright Interval Le Bassin :: The Sailboat Pond Le Docteur :: The Doctor La Réponse :: The Answer Dix-Huit Heures Trente :: Six-Thirty Bacchus :: Bacchus Verlaine :: Verlaine La Chiffonnerie :: The Rag-And-Bone Shop La Petite Troupe :: The Little Band Rue De Tournon :: Rue De Tournon Le Frisbee :: The Frisbee Quai Des Orfèvres :: Quai Des Orfèvres La Meule :: The Moped L’Ombre :: The Shadow Sérénade :: Serenade Supermarché :: The Supermarket Tête De Noeud :: Knothead La Tentation Derrière L’Église :: Temptation Behind The Church Fenêtre Sur Cour :: Rear Window Acquis :: Homilies Le Cauchemar :: The Nightmare La Vérité :: Truth Fruits Sur La Fenêtre :: Fruit On The Windowsill Les Pommettes :: High Cheekbones Le Vin Nouveau :: New Wine Insecte :: Insect Evolène :: Evolène La Pocharde :: The Drunkard L’Ombre Tiède :: The Warm Shadow Cybèle :: Cybele La Victime Anthropophage :: The Anthropophage Victim La Calomnie D’Après Apelle :: Slander, After Appelles Salut L’Artiste :: Hail To The Artist Pas De Rimes :: No Rhymes Halte En Montagne :: A Pause In The Mountains La Cascade :: The Waterfall La Fête :: The Fair Dinard :: Dinard Au Restaurant :: At The Restaurant La Vieille Compagne :: The Old Wife Les Camarades :: The Comrades Stratford :: Stratford Le Salon De Musique :: The Music Room La Leçon De Chant :: The Singing Lesson La Belle :: Beauty Variations :: Variations Acknowledgments