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Yesterday's Wilderness Kingdom: Hier Regnant Desert
Yves Bonnefoy, bornin Tours in 1923, is the most important and influential French poet since Francis Ponge and René Char.
His influence extends beyond the world of poetry thanks to his essays on literature and art, his translations of Shakespeare’s complete tragedies and his teaching at the College de France. Yesterday's Wilderness Kingdom is a complete translation of his second book, Hier régnant désert (1958).
His influence extends beyond the world of poetry thanks to his essays on literature and art, his translations of Shakespeare’s complete tragedies and his teaching at the College de France. Yesterday's Wilderness Kingdom is a complete translation of his second book, Hier régnant désert (1958).
132 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 30, 1958
7 people want to read
About the author
Yves Bonnefoy
295 books83 followersYves Bonnefoy (1923/6/24-2016/7/1) was a French poet and essayist. Bonnefoy was born in Tours, Indre-et-Loire, the son of a railroad worker and a teacher.
His works have been of great importance in post-war French literature, at the same time poetic and theoretical, examining the meaning of the spoken and written word. He also published a number of translations, most notably Shakespeare and published several works on art and art history, including Miró and Giacometti.
His works have been of great importance in post-war French literature, at the same time poetic and theoretical, examining the meaning of the spoken and written word. He also published a number of translations, most notably Shakespeare and published several works on art and art history, including Miró and Giacometti.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
January 3, 2026
The fire,
Empty, watches over memory’s garden
And you, shadow in the shade, where are you, who are you?
*
Now the fire stirs only memory and ash,
*
Day leans over the river of the past,
*
What remained in our hearts
But desire unending for oblivion?
*
Star on the threshold. Wind, held
In motionless hands.
Speech and wind had fought and fought,
And then the sudden silence of the wind.
Empty, watches over memory’s garden
And you, shadow in the shade, where are you, who are you?
*
Now the fire stirs only memory and ash,
*
Day leans over the river of the past,
*
What remained in our hearts
But desire unending for oblivion?
*
Star on the threshold. Wind, held
In motionless hands.
Speech and wind had fought and fought,
And then the sudden silence of the wind.
Displaying 1 of 1 review