First paint a cagewith an open door.
Then paint
something pretty,
something simple,
something beautiful,
something useful
for the bird.
Now place the canvas against a tree
in a garden,
in a wood
or in a forest.
Hide behind the tree
without a word, without a move.
Sometimes the bird comes quickly
but it could also take long years
before she makes up her mind.
One must not get discouraged.
One must await.
If need be await years
the speed or the slowness of the arrival of bird
being utterly unrelated
to the success of the painting.
When the bird comes,
if she comes
observe the most profound silence,
wait for the bird to enter the cage
and when it is in
with the brush gently close the door
then
erase every single bar, one by one
being careful not to touch any of the bird's feathers.
Then make the portrait of the tree
choosing the most beautiful of its branches
for the bird.
Paint also the green foliage and the crispness of the wind,
the dust of the sun
and the noise of the grass animals in the summer heat
and then wait until the bird decides to sing.
If the bird does not sing
it is a bad sign.
Asign that the painting is bad.
But if it sings, it is a good sign.
A sign that you can sign.
Then you tear off very gently
one of the feathers of the bird
and you write your name in one of the corners of the painting.
Jaques Prevert
PS. I have no idea about your feelings at this moment - while reading these rows...
When it comes to me... These verses put a spell on me... So warm, sensible, colorful, peaceful... That's my mood today!
When it comes to me... These verses put a spell on me... So warm, sensible, colorful, peaceful... That's my mood today!
