From Guillaume Apollinare's "1909"
J'aimais les femmes atroces dans les quartiers enormes
Ou naissaient chaque jour quelques etres nouveaux
Le fer etait leur sang la flamme leur cerveau
J'aimais jaimais le peuple habile des machines
Le luxe et la beaute ne sont que son ecume
Cette femme etait si belle
Qu'elle me faisait peur
(From Robert Bly's English translation)
I loved atrocious women in the abysmal quarters of the city
Where some new beings were born every day
Their blood was iron, their brains fire
I loved I loved the people clever with machines
Luxury and beauty are nothing but scum
This woman was so beautiful
That she frightened me
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