The Stars
by Simone Weil (translation)
janine canan
Stars on fire, that populate the night's far sky,
mute stars, revolving blind, forever glazed --
you yank yesterdays out of our hearts,
and throw us on tomorrows without our consent.
And we cry to you, but all our cries are in vain.
We follow you since we must -- arms linked,
eyes lifted to your pure, but bitter light.
From your viewpoint all our suffering means little.
And so silent, we stagger on -- until suddenly
your divine fire is here -- in our hearts.
