Chapeau Bas [English translation]

Is it the hand of God

Is it the hand of the Devil

That wove the sky

Of that beautiful morning,

Planting in its heart

A snippet of sunlight

Which shatters upon the water

In a thousand ruby radiances?

Is it the hand of God

Is it the hand of the Devil

That placed upon the sea

That strange yacht

Which, like the snake,

Seems to unfurl itself,

Black and white, upon the blue water

That the wind makes dance?

Is it God, is the Devil

Or the two at the same time

Who, one day, joining together,

Crafted that morning?

Is it one or the other?

Truly, I do not know

But, for so much beauty,

Thanks be to them, I tip my hat to them.

Is it the hand of God,

Is it the hand of the Devil

That placed that rose

In this garden here?

For that fiery love,

For that noble lady

The rose of velvet

In this garden here?

And these burst open plums,

And all those white lily flowers,

And these red currants,

And this laughter of children,

And Christine so beautiful

Under her white petticoats,

With, in the middle,

The brilliance of her twenty years of life?

Is it God, is it the Devil

Or the two at the same time

Who, one day, joining together,

Crafted that springtime?

Is it one or the other?

Truly, I do not know,

But, for so much beauty,

Thanks be to them, I tip my hat to them!

The yacht which skittered away,

The rose here

And those flowers and those fruits

And our tears of joy...

Who could offer us

All of those beautiful things?

We pluck them up together without saying anything.

Proceed, it is for you and for me!

Is it the hand of God

And that hand of the Malignant

Who, one day, joining together,

Have crossed our paths?

Is it one or the other?

Truly, I do not know,

But for that love

Thanks be to them, I tip my hat to them!...

But for you and for me

Thanks be to them, I tip my hat to them

• Artist:Barbara