After a while you don't think about it anymore: br Don't translate, br Don't worry, br Don't try. br On est Là br [Or at least close enough to 'Là' to Rock 'n' Roll] br br OK, it has to be admitted - br There are moments and messages br That fall through the listening 'net', br Odd things that appear, well, odd, br Or suffer in non-translation, br Especially at dinner parties, br Where the cut and chase of exchanges br Can get away from you br Faster than a Ferrari from a feu rouge. br But that's just how it is – br There's no 'playback' facility in real time br And 'rewind' comes with too much of a price, br Is a bargain bought and bought dear: br A chance to maybe, (just maybe) br Understand marginally better br The fast-fading echoes of phrases past, br Set against the almost certainty br Of the loss of the present sentence. br It's a no-brainer; br No goer, br No pointer: br A conversational, translation, br Lose-lose situation. br br So cut yourself some slack, br Get out of the linguistic pressure cooker, br Turn down the self-inflicted heat br To the temperature of a well-chambréd Claret br And relax into it as you would br Snuggling up with a good book br Under a duck-down duvet br Gently pre-warmed by electric blanket br And having your lover come climb in beside. br br Now that type of translation br Is pretty much guaranteed appreciation.