January 1st, Poem by Victor Hugo

Poem by Victor Hugo Themes DeathPeriod 19th century

Child, they will tell you later that your grandfather
Adored you; that he did his best on this earth,
That he had very little joy and many envious people,
That when you were little he was old,
That he had no gruff words or sullen airs,
And that he left you in the season of roses;
That he is dead, that he was a gentle old man;
That, in the famous winter of the great bombardment,
He crossed tragic Paris full of swords,
To bring you piles of toys, dolls,
And puppets making a thousand funny gestures;
And you will be thoughtful under the deep trees.

January 1, 1871

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