TO PAINT THE PORTRAIT OF A BIRD

First of all, paint a cage 
with an opened little door 
then paint something attractive 
something simple 
something beautiful 
something of benefit for the bird 
put the picture on a tree 
in a garden 
in a wood 
or in a forest
hide yourself behind the tree 
silent 
immovable...

Sometimes the bird arrives quickly 
but sometimes it takes years 
don’t be discouraged 
wait 
wait for years if necessary
the rapidity or the slowness of the Arrival 
doesn’t have any relationship 
with the result of the picture 

When the bird comes 
if it comes 
keep the deepest silence 
wait until the bird enters the cage 
and when entered in
close the door softly with the brush 
then remove one by one all the bars 
care not to touch any feather of the bird 

Then draw the portrait of the tree 
choosing the most beautiful branch 
for the bird 
paint also the green foliage 
and the wind’s freshness 
the dust of the sun
and the buzz of the insects 
in the summer’s heat
and then, wait for the bird to sing

If the bird doesn’t sing 
it’s a bad sign 
it means that the picture is wrong 
but if it sings it’s a good sign 
it means that you can sign 

So you pluck with sweetness 
A feather from the bird 
and write your name in a corner 
of the painting.

JACQUES PREVÉRT

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