La java des bombes atomiques [English translation]

The Atomic Bomb Waltz:

My uncle a famous handyman

Made amateur

Atomic bombs.

Without ever having learned anything

He was a true genius

Question work practice

He shut himself in all day

At the back of his workshop

To do his experiments

And in the evening he came to our house

And put us in a trance

By telling us everything

'To build an A bomb

My children believe me

It's really a piece of cake

The question of the detonator

Is resolved in a quarter of an hour

That is moved aside.

As far as the H bomb is concerned

It isn't much harsher

But one thing torments me

It's that my production

Only has a range of

Three and a half metres.

There is something amiss in there.

I'm going back there at once'

He slogged away during the days

Trying with love

To improve the design.

When he had lunch with us

He devoured his noodle soup

In one go.

We saw his fierce look

That fell on a bone

But we didn't dare say anything.

And then one evening during the meal

There is uncle sighing

And here is written what he said:

'As I'm becoming old

I realise better

I have a brain that is wavering

Let us be serious, let's say the word

That's even more of a brain

It's like white sauce.

Here for months and for years

That I try to increase

The of range my bomb.

And haven't even reported

That the only thing that counts

Is the location where it falls.

There is something wrong with this

I'm going back immediately'

Close to knowing the result

All the heads of state

Visited him.

He welcomed them and apologised

Because his shack was so small.

But as soon as they all entered

He locked them in

Telling them 'Behave!

And when the bomb has exploded

There won't be any more of you left.'

Before this result Uncle

Didn't lose heart

And play the fool.

At the court house

He was dragged

In front of the jury

Here he stammers:

'It's an awful accident

But I swear before God

That in my soul and conscience

By destroying all of those crooks

I am convinced

I've served France'

They were embarrassed

So they condemned him

And then they pardoned him.

And the grateful country

Immediately elected him

As Head of the Government

• Artist:Serge Reggiani