hard times in French

Here's the French translation of "hard times" (posted just below), which appeared with the original at temps libre.

les temps sont durs
du vendeur de voiture
la dent manquante

hard times

hard times

the car salesman's

missing tooth

[Originally published at temps libre. After drafting this, I wrote a variation, which I've posted below. When Serge Tome, the editor, requested permission to publish "hard times," I passed on the variation as well, leaving it up to him to decide which he preferred. He went for "hard times." Here's the variation. I'd be glad to know which you prefer.]

used cars

the salesman's

missing tooth

January 29

seventy-six today

I walk through a puddle

because I can

rush

a rush of starlings

over the highway . . .

the things I don't know

[First published in Ambrosia]

inauguration

inauguration

the outgoing president

thanked for his service

waltz

skaters' waltz

the spectators

stomp their feet

[First published, in a slightly different version, in Sketchbook]

sunrise

mountain sunrise

the rattle of a truck

headed somewhere else

[First published in Magnapoets 3]

choices (for kami)

my parents

didn't choose me, either . . .

the year begins

[I wrote this in response to one by kami. You can access her blog by clicking on "Kami Haiku" under "Blogs," to the left.]

sunset

sunset

an apple rests

where it fell

[First published in Magnapoets 3]

facebook

facebook:

seeking women who breastfeed

without a nipple

["Facebook Censors Nursing Moms," NY Times, B4, Jan. 5, 2009]

New Year's Eve x 2

1.

New Year's Eve

at the country club

golden oldies

2.

auld lang syne—

two strangers decide

to hook up