Creative Translation of Matin d’Octobre

Alice (Y10) has translated the beautiful poem “Matin d’Octobre” by François Coppée 

As the slumberous summer afternoons gradually become darker and colder, and the soft summer air sharpens into a brisk biting breeze, we are suddenly reminded of the fast-approaching presence of winter, as October slowly starts to approach. This seasonal change is expressed in François Coppée’s poem. 

Matin D’Octobre 

By François Coppée 

C’est l’heure exquise et matinale  
Que rougit un soleil soudain. 
A travers la brume automnale 
Tombent les feuilles du jardin. 

Leur chute est lente. On peut les suivre 
Du regard en reconnaissant 
Le chêne à sa feuille de cuivre, 
L’érable à sa feuille de sang. 

Les dernières, les plus rouillées, 
Tombent des branches dépouillées : 
Mais ce n’est pas l’hiver encor. 

Une blonde lumière arrose 
La nature, et, dans l’air tout rose, 
On croirait qu’il neige de l’or. 

My creative translation 

“It is the exquisite and early hour of the morning. 

 The sudden sunrise ignites the sky, 

Among the autumn mist 

The leaves of the garden fall. 

Their fall is slow. One can follow them 

With your gaze and recognize  

The oak with its leaves of copper, 

The maple with its leaves of blood, 

The last ones, the rustier ones, 

Fall off the bare branches, 

But it is not yet winter. 

A golden light dapples down on 

Nature and in all the blush air 

One would believe it was snowing gold.”