To paint the portrait of a bird,

First paint a cage

with an open door

then paint

something pretty

something simple

something beautiful,

something useful

for the bird.

then place the canvas against a tree

in a garden

in a wood

or in a forest

hide behind the tree

without speaking

without moving...

Sometimes the bird comes quickly

but he can just as well spend long years

before deciding

don't get discouraged

wait

wait years if necessary

the swiftness or slowness of the

coming of the bird having no rapport

with the success of the picture

when the bird comes

if he comes

observe the most profound silence

wait till the bird enters the cage

and when he has entered

gently close the door with a brush

then

paint out all the bars one by one

taking care not to touch any of the feathers of the bird

Then paint the portrait of the tree

choosing the most beautiful of its branches

for the bird

paint also the green foilage and the wind's freshness

the dust of the sun

and the noise of the insects in the summer heat

and then wait for the bird to decide to sing

if the bird doesn't sing

it's a bad sign

a sign that the painting is bad

but if he sings it's a good sign

a sign that you can sign

so then so gently you pull out

one of the feathers of the bird

and sign your name in a corner of the picture.

Jacques Prevert

(translated by Lawrence Ferlinghetti)

xxx elle