Jacques Villon

Life never curable,

life to be always cherished

in spite of plagues

and low morals,

in spite of false stars

and invading ash,

in spite of rasping fevers,

crimes below the belt,

dried-up breasts, idiotic brows,

and mortal suns,

in spite of dead gods,

in spite of lies:-

the dawn, the horizon, water,

birds, people, and love...

people light-hearted and good

sweetening the earth,

thinning the forests,

and illuminating the stones...

and the nocturnal rose,

and the blood of the masses.