Easy French Poetry (French Today)

Paul Valéry croit que la poésie possède un pouvoir émotionnel qui peut être presque magique...

Au milieu d’une rue étourdissante, le poète croise du regard une femme qui passe et il est ébloui par sa beauté et sa noblesse. Quand elle disparaît tout à coup dans la foule, il devient découragé....

Born in 1762, André Chénier is sentenced to death by guillotine at 32 years old, as Robespierre imposes the Terror through France.

"Le Rameur" describes a man who is rowing on a beautiful river. All is calm and you can only hear the sounds of his oars. The images are gorgeous and so is the rhythm.

In this 16th century poem written in old French, a young woman is being married to an older man. She shares with us her attempts to seduce her husband, her torments and the decision she finally takes.

Published in 1544, Scève's "Délie, objet de plus haute vertu" is a cycle of 449 poems, an endless examination of the physical and spiritual pains of an impossible love.

This fable tells a great story about a reed (which represent the people) and an all-mighty oak (representing the king)...

This 19th century poem, 336 verse long, is in fact very philosophical and talks about the human condition. Written in Alexandrines, the poet entices a woman (Èva) to leave urban life, and live in Nature (considered as God's creation) which fascinates him as much as it disgusts him..

Claudel is a magical poet, like Valery. Don't try to understand every single words, just let the images bring you to the ambiance of the past life he is sharing with us, and feel how some echo with your own experience.

"Le Niagara" by Louis Fréchette - Slow reading, author's life, analysis and fast reading.