‘Others? Hell is really us’ – in English, and in French
Others? Hell really is us. rebutting Sartre’s #hellisothers (L’enfer c’est les autres)
Our Australian winter of discontent, the pandemic season of hell,
gives way to the mantle of dazzling light and azure skies.
Gone are the sad grey skies and the lockdowns.
Time for action! Dining and drinks with friends, a show or two.
Music! The sound of drumming and dancing drives us all,
people abound, no troubled soul left behind,
we hear the clatter of new life in town.
The relentless city traffic disgorges fuel,
aeroplanes above incessantly spewing
our fumes back at us. Hazes appear.
Water’s scarce. Fires are closing in
the hot season’s upon us.
Hell really is us! Les Autres? L’enfer c’est vraiment nous en réfutant la phrase de Sartre #lenfercestlesautresNotre triste hiver Australien, l’horrible saison de pandémie
fait place a une lumière lumineuse et à des ciels d’azur
partis sont tristes grisailles et confinements.
Action! L’apéro, un diner avec amis et un spectacle ou deux.
Musique! Les bruits des tambours et des danses nous font sortir,
les gens sont partout, personne n’est abandonné,
on entend le son de nouvelles aventures.
Les véhicules commencent à dégorger du carburant,
les avions n’arrêtent pas de déverser leurs vapeurs
sur nous. Des brumes se forment.
L’eau se fait rare. Les feux de forêts approchent,
la saison chaude nous envahit.
L’enfer, c’est vraiment nous!
I am a French-born Australian linguist who loves writing about multicultural experiences. Taught English in Zambia and Papua New Guinea, gained a Doctorate with UPNG. In Western Australia I worked with migrants and Indigenous communities in Kalgoorlie and Roebourne. In charge of Amnesty International WA, then moved to Adelaide. Short-listed by The Human Rights Commission for the Literature NF Award for the anthology I edited with the Multicultural Writers Association of Australia, I later published my memoir. Volunteered with the Writers Centre, became active with PEN.
View all posts by yadelaide
