Jean Follain (1903–1971) was an author, poet, corporate lawyer, and judge. His first substantial book of poems was La main chaude (1933), and a selection of his poems, Transparence of the World, was translated by W. S. Merwin (Copper Canyon Press, 2003). In 1970 Follain was awarded the Grand Prize of Poetry from L’Académie française. He died the following year in a car accident.

Solitaries

by Jean Follain

Their doors always open badly
behind them the fire-colored
animal is asleep
they know whoever passes
on the curving road
man or woman just by the footstep

People on couch
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