Henri Monnier’s Cat Poetry Giveaway: 2 Poems

I decided to wait a couple of days before posting the poems to make sure everyone would see the main post for the giveaway.

Then, when I was ready for my human to post the poems… she was busy reading. She devoted her free time to finishing the lovely book Love Saves the Day, which she absolutely wanted to finish once she had started it!

My human tried her best to translate the two poems I chose, but she thinks a little is lost (most of the time) in translation, especially in poetry with rhymes and sometimes a certain number of feet. Also many words in French which have the syllable “cha” (sounding like “chat” or cat in French), used purposefully by the author, are lost in the translation.

The first poem is a tribute to ladies who give food to feral cats. The poem can be found in the collection of poems “Les Chats de Saint-Sulpice.”

Discrete Charity	Charité discrète
I will never say it enough Oh! all the good we must think of Brave ladies with their fragile hearts That travel all the city parts, To bring enough to erring cats To let them pounce on this and that.	Je ne dirai jamais assez Tout le bien qu’il nous faut penser Des braves dames au cœur fragile Qui s’en vont à travers la ville, Apporter aux chats vagabonds De quoi faire encore quelques bonds.
They don’t care ’bout those mocking them People with very little brain, And other, bigger fish to fry, The weather might be wet or dry These ladies leave some sustenance To cats considered a nuisance.	Indifférentes aux railleries Des gens qui n’ont que peu d’esprit, Et d’autres chats à fouetter, On les voit hiver comme été Déposer quelque subsistance Aux animaux de la malchance.
All these cats with so sad a fate Were abandoned on any date Because of undignified people, They hope for a sign or signal To be happy just like before, Is it a plea you can ignore?	Tous ces chats au triste destin Abandonnés un beau matin Par la faute de gens indignes, Ils n’attendent de vous qu’un signe Pour être heureux tout comme avant, N’est-ce pas un peu émouvant.
If you have a delicate heart To give your smile, it would be smart To the aspiring old lady Who heals a cat, or a doggie, And even if it is not much Your act is a good cause as such.	Si vous avez le cœur sensible Souriez tant qu’il est possible A la vieille dame qui vient Soigner un chat, peut-être un chien, Et même si c’est peu de chose Vous servirez la bonne cause.
She got no legion of honor, Never does she get a flower, She finds her very own reward In always being straightforward And she takes from her small pension What she needs for her good action.	Elle n’a pas la légion d’honneur, Jamais elle ne reçoit de fleurs, Elle trouve sa récompense En agissant comme elle pense Et prend sur sa maigre pension De quoi faire sa bonne action.
She is discrete in her process She never does try to impress But do not think for a second That she doesn’t like the children, She only endeavors to say In her own way, a little prayer.	C’est une personne discrète Qui ne cherche pas à paraitre, Mais ne croyez pas pour autant Qu’elle n’aime pas les enfants, Elle essaie seulement de faire A sa manière, une prière.

The second one is about how we, kitties, need to be loved, too. It can be found in “Sa Majesté le Chat.”

Cuddles	Cajoleries
Jumping about, pouncing, running, Having fun with next to nothing You’re so fragile, as you snuggle, Yet wonderfully indocile You’re looking for some affection; Playing the card of seduction, Like nobody has done before And when it works you purr some more.	Tu bondis, tu vas et viens, En t’amusant d’un presque rien Et tu te blottis, si fragile, Merveilleusement indocile En quête d’un peu d’affection ; La carte de la séduction, Tu la joues bien mieux que personne Et quand c’est parti, tu ronronnes.
You make the most of the torrent Of cuddles and the contentment Of my strokes that bring you calmness, You’re so looking for tenderness You are using all the assets That only nice tomcats possess, We are always caught in your game You too need to be loved the same.	Tu profites nonchalamment Des câlins et de l’agrément Que te procurent les caresses, Tu recherches tant la tendresse En usant de tous les atouts Que possède un gentil matou, On est pris à ton stratagème, Toi aussi, t’as besoin qu’on t’aime.

****You have until tomorrow 11.59 pm to enter the giveaway here. Please enter via Rafflecopter if you want to win one of these books! Good luck everyone!****

20 thoughts on “Henri Monnier’s Cat Poetry Giveaway: 2 Poems”

Have to take our hats off to your Mom – she’s done a really fine job of the translations! Such hard things to o for poetry as she says.
Animalcouriers recently posted…Crossing from Greece to Italy

Oh those poems are so good. Of course we love the one about the feral kittties. But they are both good and for sure the Mom did such a good job translating them. But then we wouldn’t have noticed the difference. Take care and have a good weekend.
Marg recently posted…Formerly Feral Friday

Wonderful poems I think we entered the competition. Have a wonderful weekend xx0xx

Mollie and Alfie
mollieandalfie recently posted…HAPPY BIRFDAY DADDY.

Congratulations to your Human for the translation, dear Texas! it is really excellent! Even some rhymes are met! Great job, indeed! and the poet will be so proud to see his poems translated into English and posted on the blog of a famous cat in New York! Many hugs.

Texas it was really wonderful for your Mom to translate those poems – they’re both REALLY special and we also love the illustrations from the book that we’ve seen. I’m sure the author would be proud of the job your Mom did just like you are!! Thanks to you and your Mom for sharing – we love poetry, stories, drawings and ANYTHING to do with cats (imagine that!).

Kitty Hugs, Sammy
Sammy recently posted…Welcome To My Pawty!

Beautiful poems! Your mom did a good job on that, Tex. She earns a few Pawkisses… from me :)
angelswhisper2011 recently posted…Sunday Mother’s Day

Oh so nice!!! Thanks you so much!!!!
Have a good week-end!!!

Cajoleries! What a wonderful word. In Italian it’s “coccole.” I love to know the word “cuddle” in many languages. It’s so important. – Crepes.
Crepes recently posted…Confession Friday: I’m Giving My Blankey to Dot

We know that translation just doesn’t always work out right. I know Seinfeld that was a huge hit here in the US was a total bomb in Germany because the humor didn’t translate. It is a bummer but that is language and rhymes…forget that, impossible!
emma recently posted…What’s Up At My House | GBGV

I can appreciate the poems in very basic French. Thank you for all your efforts!
Dash Kitten recently posted…Pet Shopping Giveaway with BZTAT

What lovely poems! I made sure my human entered.
Sparkle recently posted…12 Six-Word Stories About Kitties

It’s awonderful poem, it described why we love kitties. thanks for the translation, it’s a hard job to translate a poem. Have a wonderful caturday :o)
easy rider recently posted…easyblog BEAUTIFUL FRIDAY

Those really were good and kudos on translating them purrfectly for us!
Brian recently posted…Comment on A Sister Saturday Gotcha Day with Precious by Deb Barnes – Zee and Zoey

Merci pour ce beau partage. J’aime beaucoup ces deux poèmes. J’adore la poésie en général, surtout quand elle parle de chat ;) Bises et bon week-end.
Eirwena recently posted…ACCUEIL

I don’t know French although I came THISCLOSE to being adopted by a French couple who were at the same adoption event my peeps went to. TW had to tell the Mlle to back slowly away from my cage and no one would get hurt.

These poems are a lot better than anything TW ever wrote.
Cathy Keisha recently posted…Finding My Comfort Zone