Le Jour Se Lève.... (Daybreak)  by Sophie Alavi

This poem was written by Sophie Alavi, upon learning of Jennifer's death. We had the pleasure of having Sophie as our guest from Reims, France, for two weeks in late August of 2006.  Since then, she has become a close family friend and we have enjoyed several exchange visits with her and her family.

The translation of her poem is by Daniel Birnbaum, a cycling friend who lives in Paris.

 Le Jour Se Lève

Le jour se lève, mais la lumière n'est plus la même ce matin.
Elle semble plus pâle et plus froide à la fois.
Elle baigne dans un silence infini.
Puis cette lumière devient rayon de soleil
qui réchauffe les peines immenses.

Cette jeunesse arrachée, cette innocence fragile, cet être qui n'avait rien demandé,
c'est ce rayon que nous retrouvons partout où nos yeux se posent,
c'est un ange de lumière qui nous a montré malgré lui
ce qu'était l'essentiel dans une vie:
Aimer chaque jour qui se lève.
Cette nouvelle étoile dans le manteau noir,
même si je n'ai pu que l'apercevoir,
a éclairé ma nuit
et me rappelera toujours
qu'il faut être digne de cette vie.

Daybreak

Daybreak...but the light is different this morning.
It seems at once paler and colder.
It bathes in an infinite silence,
but then becomes a ray of sun,
warming huge expanses of loss.

This youth snatched away, this fragile innocence,
This undemanding being, has become the light
On which our eyes everywhere alight.
She has become an angel of light who has pointed us,
Without meaning to, toward the essence of living:
Loving every day that breaks.
This new star, in the dark overcoat of heaven,
this star that I could only sight,
yet brightened my night
and will always remind me,
that we must be worthy of this life.