courage (10) caroline lamarche
In these troubled times, we asked a number of authors we admire what ‘courage’ means to them. In the coming weeks, you can read their answers here, in the form of a poem, a memory, an anecdote or a more philosophical reflection.
DEAR COURAGE
Dear courage, where do you hide today in our city, whose barren heart once beat so loud?
Dear courage, no use in keeping a low profile, your eyes tearing into your mask. Nothing escapes you. Not the poverty, the loneliness, the mutual aid, nor the humour in spite of it all.
Dear courage, today an old woman, in mourning for communal cafes and benches, decided to dress in her brightest colours so she could, in her words, “give courage to passers-by as much as to myself”.
Dear courage, if you ever doubt yourself or us, think of her.
Dear courage, take courage. Now’s the time.
Translated from the French by Daniella Shreir
Born in Liège in 1955, Caroline Lamarche writes short stories, poems and novels. Le Jour du chien won the prix Rossel in 1996. Since then she has written books including Lettres du pays froid, Carnets d'une soumise de province and Nous sommes à la lisière, which won the prix Goncourt de la nouvelle in 2019.
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