It can be very difficult for non-native French speakers to read, comprehend, and even enjoy poetry in French. This is because the language can be more florid than in prose,\u00a0there may me multiple layers of meaning not easily deduced by the non-native reader, and it may depend on cultural references.<\/p>\n
But, alas, not all is lost if you have difficulty understanding Verlaine, Rimbaud, or especially Mallarm\u00e9. There are many other contemporary French poets that might be easier for non-native French learners to read. Today, we’ll focus on one: Jacques Charpentreau.<\/p>\n
Jacques Charpentreau is known for his simple but charming style, and his use of rhyme and repetition, which makes it easier for non-native readers to appreciate his poetry. Born in 1928, Charpentreau is a beloved figure in France and recently passed away in March 2016.<\/p>\n
Here’s his poem, “C’est place de la Concorde \u00e0 Paris”:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
C’est place de la Concorde \u00e0 Paris<\/p>\n
qu’un enfant assis au bord des fontaines<\/p>\n
entre \u00e0 pas de r\u00eave au c\u0153ur de la nuit<\/p>\n
fra\u00eeche comme l’eau claire des fontaines<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Un enfant de nuit de r\u00eave d’espoir<\/p>\n
qui voudrait pouvoir lutter sans r\u00e9pit<\/p>\n
contre son sommeil pour apercevoir<\/p>\n
ses r\u00eaves de nuit venir \u00e0 la vie<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Un enfant de nuit de r\u00eave d’espoir<\/p>\n
qui voudrait pouvoir lutter sans r\u00e9pit<\/p>\n
contre son sommeil pour apercevoir<\/p>\n
ses r\u00eaves de nuit venir \u00e0 la vie<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Toutes les voitures avec leurs phares<\/p>\n
toutes les voitures tracent pour lui<\/p>\n
des lignes de feu flottant dans la nuit<\/p>\n
comme de longs fils de vierge o\u00f9 Paris<\/p>\n
retient son c\u0153ur ses r\u00eaves ses espoirs<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Translation for “It’s at the Place de la Concorde in Paris”:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It’s at the place de la Concorde in Paris<\/p>\n
that a child is sitting on the edge of the fountains<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
slowly entering a dream in the middle of the night<\/p>\n
fresh like the water of the fountains<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A child of the night of dreams of hope<\/p>\n
who would like to fight without giving up<\/p>\n
against his fatigue in order to watch<\/p>\n
his nightly dreams coming to life<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
A child of the night of dreams of hope<\/p>\n
who wanted to be able to fight without giving up<\/p>\n
against his fatigue in order to watch<\/p>\n
his nightly dreams \u00a0coming to life<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
All of these cars with their headlights<\/p>\n
all these cars trace for him<\/p>\n
lines of fire floating in the night<\/p>\n
like the long threads of gossamer where Paris<\/p>\n
keeps its heart its dreams its hopes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It can be very difficult for non-native French speakers to read, comprehend, and even enjoy poetry in French. This is because the language can be more florid than in prose,\u00a0there may me multiple layers of meaning not easily deduced by the non-native reader, and it may depend on cultural references. But, alas, not all is…<\/p>\n