Poem: “Childhood” by Victor Hugo

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French Literature – French Poetry – Victor Hugo – Poems by Victor Hugo
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Childhood

(“L’enfance – L’enfant chantait.”)

{Bk. I. xxiii., Paris, January, 1835.}

The small child sang; the mother, outstretched on the low bed,
With anguish moaned,—fair Form pain should possess not long;
For, ever nigher, Death hovered around her head:
I hearkened there this moan, and heard even there that song.

The child was but five years, and, close to the lattice, aye
Made a sweet noise with games and with his laughter bright;
And the wan mother, aside this being the livelong day
Carolling joyously, coughed hoarsely all the night.

The mother went to sleep ‘mong them that sleep alway;
And the blithe little lad began anew to sing…
Sorrow is like a fruit: God doth not therewith weigh
Earthward the branch strong yet but for the blossoming.

NELSON R. TYERMAN.

La tour des rats de Victor Hugo - 1847 — La tour des rats de Victor Hugo – 1847

< < < The Vale to You, to Me the Heights
Satire on the Earth > > >

French Literature – French Poetry – Victor Hugo – Poems by Victor Hugo

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Childhood

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