When I was least happy in life

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Poème original

When I was least happy in life my daughter led me across the road to a neighbour whom I did not know with the purpose of a toddler who does not see gates and fences but the ducks and puppies on the other side. You spoke to me in the same low murmuring tones you used for lame horses and bilious dogs. Crops, flowers and poultry were our theme: you made me tea and wiped the counter, you said ‘Foeitog’ and ‘I don’t hope so.’ You guessed. You told me I was beautiful, In the courtly way of an old man. One day when it rained you phoned from your side and said ‘I’m sending some ducks for Beatrix’ ̶ you always called her ‘Beatrix’ out the window we saw them, waddling over, in the way of ducks when directed by Oom Piet. You moved and I moved, but one thing stays: the sense of a rescue, somehow being saved.

Traduction

When I was most unhappy in life my daughter took me across the street to a neighbor I didn't know with the determination of a little child who doesn't see barriers but only the ducks and puppies on the other side. You spoke to me in the same gentle tones you used for sick horses and dogs. We talked about crops, flowers, and chickens: you made me tea and cleaned the counter, you said ‘Poor thing’ and ‘I hope not.’ You understood. You told me I was lovely, In the polite way of an old man. One rainy day you called from your house and said ‘I’m sending some ducks for Beatrix’ ̶ you always called her ‘Beatrix’ we saw them through the window, waddling over, like ducks do when guided by Uncle Piet. You moved away and I moved away, but one thing remains: the feeling of being rescued, somehow being saved.

Explication

The poem captures a poignant moment of human connection and kindness during a period of personal unhappiness. The speaker recalls being led by their daughter to a neighbor they did not know, who treated them with gentle understanding and kindness. The neighbor's actions, such as speaking in soothing tones and sharing simple conversations about everyday topics, provided a sense of comfort and rescue. The mention of sending ducks for the speaker's daughter, Beatrix, symbolizes a gesture of care and affection. Despite changes and movements in life, the speaker holds onto the memory of this emotional rescue, highlighting the lasting impact of small acts of kindness. The poem uses imagery of animals and nature to convey innocence and simplicity, while the neighbor's courtly manner and the use of phrases like 'Foeitog' add a touch of cultural specificity.

Dictionnaire des mots

Mot	Sens simple	Traduction	Pron.
least	smallest amount	smallest amount	leest
murmuring	softly speaking	speaking softly	mur-mur-ing
bilious	sickly	feeling sick	bil-yus
courtly	polite	very polite	court-lee
waddling	walking like a duck	walking like a duck	wad-ling
rescue	saving	saving from danger	res-kew
foeitog	poor thing	expression of sympathy	foy-tog
fences	barriers	barriers	fen-ses
toddler	young child	young child	tod-ler
guessed	supposed	thought	gest

When I was least happy in life — Poème | Poetry Explainer