Before he was a poet, Jean Follain was a lawyer and then, a judge. He grew up in the small town of Canisy, France, and spent his adult years in Paris. A short biography is here.
Dogs and Schoolboys
by Jean Follain (1903-1971)
The schoolboys crack the ice for fun
Along the path
Beside the railway tracks
They are warmly clothed
In old dark wool
With belts of polished leather
The dog that follows them
No longer has a bowl to eat from
He’s old
Since he’s their age.
And in his native French:
Chien aux écoliers
Les écoliers par jeu brisent la glace
dans un sentier
près du chemin de fer
on les a lourdement habillés
d’anciens lainages sombres
et ceinturés de cuirs fourbus
le chien qui les suit
n’a plus d’écuelle où manger tard
il est vieux
car il a leur age.
dans un sentier
près du chemin de fer
on les a lourdement habillés
d’anciens lainages sombres
et ceinturés de cuirs fourbus
le chien qui les suit
n’a plus d’écuelle où manger tard
il est vieux
car il a leur age.
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