Pour faire le portrait d'un oiseau [English translation]

Paint first a birdcage

With an open door

Paint next

Something nice

Something simple

Something beautiful

Something useful

For the bird

Place then the painting to a tree

In a garden

In a wood

Or in a forest

Hide behind the tree

Without saying anything

Without moving…

Sometimes the bird comes fast

But he can arrive after long years

Before decided to come

Not to discourage itself

Wait

Wait for years if we have to

The speed or the slowness comes of the bird

Without any relation

With the success of the painting

When the bird comes

If he comes

Observe the deepest silence

Wait the bird comes into the birdcage

And when he is in

Close slowly the birdcage with a brush

Then

rub out one by one all the bars

By paying attention not to touch any feathers of the bird

Then make the portrait of the tree

Choosing the most beautiful leafs of its branches

For the bird

Paint too the green leaves and the coolness of the wind

The sun dust

And the noise of the green beats in the summer heat

And wait that the bird decide to sing

If the bird doesn’t sing

It’s a bad sign

Sign that the painting is bad

But if he sings it’s a good sign

Sign that you can sign

So you can tear slowly

One of the feather of the bird

And you write your name

In a corner of the painting.

• Artist:Jacques Prévert
• Album:Paroles - 1945