Casida of the Branches

Throught the trees of Tamarit have come the hounds of lead waiting for the branches to fall, waiting till they shatter themselves. Tamarit has an apple tree with an apple on it that sobs. A nightingale gathers the sighs and a pheasant leads them off through the dust. But the branches are happiness, the branches are like us. They don't think of rain, they sleep, as if they were trees, just like that. Sitting, their knees in water, two valleys awaited the Fall. The twilight with elephantine step leant against trunks and branches. Through the trees of Tamarit are many children with veiled faces waiting for my branches to fall, waiting till they shatter themselves.