A poem is never finished,
only abandoned.
– W. H.Auden, “quoting” Valéry
Aux yeux de ces amateurs d’inquiétude et de perfection, un ouvrage n’est jamais achevé, – mot qui pour eu n’a aucun sens, – mais abandonné; et cet abandon, qui le livre aux flammes ou au public (et qu’il soit l’effet de la lassitude ou de l’obligation de livrer), leur est une sorte d’accident, comparable à la rupture d’une réflexion, que la fatigue, le fâcheux, ou quelque sensation viennent rendre nulle.
– Paul Valéry, au sujet du Cimetière marin.
After a break, I find the blog needs a bit of a wash and brush up. Sorry for any quirks. And thanks for the kind messages in my absence.
Stray Thoughts 
Welcome back. Lovely to see you again.
Thanks, that’s very kind.
Looking forward to the ‘spit and polish’ though personally i think quirkiness adds to content 😊
Thanks. I had to change my “theme” as the old one has been “retired”, and wasn’t responsive (i.e. not readable on mobiles). Now I need to get to grips with the new one…
Love seeing a text in French 🙂 I hope that all is well with you.
Thank you on both counts 🙂 I hope the same for you.
I’m afraid I was too lazy to translate, and anyway I don’t think you can ever quite capture the same meaning.
Je ne crois pas que le poémel soit abandonné car inachevé, mais offert a la lecture pour le compléter , écrire sa fin , contribuer à le faire vivre et finir….
i like it
Very inspiring. Thank you.
Abandonner : 2 senses, one you get lost somewhere and no one cares for you, and the second, means you pratice “lâcher-prise” and abandon yourself to a mood of poetry . Paul Valery is a great poet, don’t abandon the phonecab, to talk with your friends and relatives !