Soirée Familiale Poem by Kassem Oude

Au coucher du soleil
La famille réunie
Le moment de l'accueil
De la joie infinie

Vaste nappe étalée
Aliments abondants
Tout commence à user
De la grace sous les dents

Tant de livres de cahiers
Se disposent ça et là
Sous les yeux égayés
Y servant bon repas

Les figures assoupies
Se reposent sur les pages
Les stylos prennent répit
Cesse net tout ramage

Sous l'effet de la scène
Les battements accélèrent
Les soucis et les peines
Abandonnent l'atmosphère

La fete terminée
Me retire calmement
Ma copine se remet
Dans mon sein tendrement.

1999

Family Soiree

When the sun is setting
The family gets together
For a time of ingesting
Infinite joy un-tethered

There is laid a vast spread
With abundant food
Of which everyone partakes
That is pleasing and good

Numerous books are placed
Over here and over there,
While bright eyes observe
The sumptuous fare

The slumbering figures
Repose upon the page,
While pens take a respite,
Their warbling to assuage

Now the stage is set
To accelerate the beat,
All worries and sorrows
From this atmosphere retreat

When the feast has ended
I retire quietly,
My woman is recovering,
Laying on my chest tenderly

Written by Kassem Oude

Translated by the poet Lorraine Colon
On July 22,2015