Insomnia

There was a man, he had to keep a wall
So that one alone could pass through and the others be stopped
He could not say who was to enter the door in that wall
But he knew the world was full of unreliable allies.

Among them, the first to come was a corsican wind,
It was a pirate gale who would rage and take ships off the sea
"This is my report" blew that wind to the sentinel :
"Since I reached the shore, I've been carrying the pestilent breathe
Of thousand people suffering hell and plague
Lest you would dry here, with no delay should you leave"
"I may dry right on my feet, but I won't give up my watch,
for fear I should never know who I'm waiting for and who I am"
He then took his flute and played a tune :
The pirate wind flew away for some other prey

Then came the rain, with heavy drops full of remorse
"I am the tears you should prepare to shed if you stay her",
said the rain, and as for a report : "since I reached the shore"
I've been carrying the souls of Noah's drowned brothers and I warn you
A huge wave will soon make a ruin of  your petty wall"
"I may drown myself, answered the soldier, but I won't leave that wall
For fear I should never know who I am waiting for and who I am"
The rain fiercely showered the man who took his pen
Each word he wrote was deleted by a drop but his last verse
made the rain vanish and the stars shine again.

Then came the moonlight, standing up like a swiss guard
telling its report with great emphasy : Since I've shone on the shore,
I saw a forest of high, bright, sharp warriors moving to your wall
They will be soon dive in your breast their tremendous howl and their dire blades
"I am afraid of these terrible men, but far more of what could happen
If I failed t meet that man I'm waiting for"
The soldier pulled his cloak down on his eyes and tried to sleep

But a thrilling voice said behind him : "I've sent my last report, and I'm leaving now"
This was the captain speaking : "every day, a new Rome is looted by wild bunches"
What should we do ? I have a wife and children who are waiting for me
We won't be paid any more if we stay nor be honoured if we die"
He bid farewell to his captain and look at the stars that were shining
like some dark shoal of whales piercing eyes.

"Have you writen your will ?, said a scorpion creeping on the wall,
"Dead hapiness is one of my claws, the other is living woe"
When you are dead, I shall make a shelter for my sons in your skull
Don't you hear the whole nature whispering to your ear "despair and die !"
Out of fear, the man threw his torch to the scorpion that vanished.
Any coloured, any sound vanished.  Everything  suddenly  became darker

But some time later, the poor man saw a quiet light at the horizon
This light grew up and let a young lady be seen downside the wall
Dawn was her dress, and as she  knocked at the door this day shone as the first
"who are you who are knowking at my door, asked the sentinel"
I made a long travel by night since I saw my name written in water
I could not remember where to go, I came to the wall to find some rest
You did right, sweet Lady, for thy words make me think you're the one
To whom I must open. Come, get up on my wall and watch the country
The country where you got lost ; if you are tired, here's my shoulder
You can lean your sweat head on it . When I heard you knocking at my door
I knew woe had died and when I opened, I fellt hapinesse was born again

And when I heard the Lady's knocking at the door, I awoke,
My head on the table, I awoke, and I saw by the window the peep of day
shyly lightening on the pen I had kept in one of my hand
and, in the other hand, the stumbering poem of that awfull night.