Devezh an dornań

Barzhoniezh-pobl

THRESHING DAY

PEOPLE'S POETRY

 

On the ground

 

---Pitchforks, brooms scattered around

Noise and clamor and intoxicated men

The pile of straw is on the verge of falling

Two or three ladders help support it!

 

In the courtyard

 

In flapping his wings

The rooster sings on a distant pile

With wings beating hens come running

All astonished at such a meal...

 

In the loft

 

The harvest is quick this year

The piles are heavy: shared work

The staircases are full of reddish wheat

Was the sack tufted by the grain-man?

 

In the house

 

The two tables are full of men

Hard work for the cooks

The big dog Anton, the little dog Paol

Are gnawing bones under the table.

 

On the road

 

---"Kerdrubuilh" has been taken care of anyway!

The men sing while going down the road

A dirty dust on their straw hats

Yellow balls in their reddish hair.

 

At the doorway

 

People have left, the noise stilled

It's for us to scald the dirty trenchers

Washing work, drying work

Ordering work, sweeping work.

 

Humming

 

The harvest is over, the threshing is over

Tomorrow is the Sunday for relaxing...

 

 

September 1964