Delmore Schwartz

Here you will find thePoemParlez-Vous Francais?of poet Delmore Schwartz

Parlez-Vous Francais?

Caesar, the amplifier voice, announces Crime and reparation. In the barber shop Recumbent men attend, while absently The barber doffs the naked face with cream. Caesar proposes, Caesar promises Pride, justice, and the sun Brilliant and strong on everyone, Speeding one hundred miles an hour across the land: Caesar declares the will. The barber firmly Planes the stubble with a steady hand, While all in barber chairs reclining, In wet white faces, fully understand Good and evil, who is Gentile, weakness and command. And now who enters quietly? Who is this one Shy, pale, and quite abstracted? Who is he? It is the writer merely, with a three-day beard, His tiredness not evident. He wears no tie. And now he hears his enemy and trembles, Resolving, speaks: "Ecoutez! La plupart des hommes Vivent des vies de desespoir silenciuex, Victimes des intentions innombrables. Et ca Cet homme sait bien. Les mots de cette voix sont Des songes et des mensonges. Il prend choix, Il prend la volonte, il porte la fin d'ete. La guerre. Ecoutez-moi! Il porte la mort." He stands there speaking and they laugh to hear Rage and excitement from the foreigner.