Duellum

after Baudelaire

two punks rush each other
their weapons flash and unflash in the night

the tumult of steel and blood
so important to the young

words and swords fly in the air
nobody’s air

these two punks
really think they are so very important

lions wolves tigers jaguars
leopards leap for real reasons

these two punks leap off the cliffs
in a battle for cliffs


Duellum

Two warriors rushed at one another; their weapons
Splashed the air with streaks of light and blood.
These plays, this clinking of steel are the tumult
Of youth prey to bleating love.

The swords were broken! like our youth,
Beloved! But the teeth, the sharp nails,
Soon avenge the saber and the treacherous dagger
---O fury of the matured hearts exasperated by love!

Into the ravine haunted by lynxes and leopards
Our heroes, wickedly wrestling, rolled,
And their skin will cover the arid briars with flowers.

---This abyss is hell, peopled with our friends!
Let us roll there without remorse, inhuman Amazon,
In order to make eternal the ardor of our hate!

by Charles Baudelaire
translated by Wallace Fowlie