Art and the People, Poem by Victor Hugo

Poem by Victor Hugo Collection ArrayThemes ArtPeriod 19th century

Art is glory and joy.
In the storm it blazes;
It lights the blue sky.
Art, universal splendor,
Shines on the brow of the people,
Like the star on the brow of God.

Art is a magnificent field
That pleases the peaceful heart,
That the city says to the woods,
That man says to woman,
That all the voices of the soul
Sing in chorus all at once!

Art is human thought
That goes breaking every chain!
Art is the gentle conqueror!
His are the Rhine and the Tiber!
Enslaved people, it sets you free;
Free people, it makes you great!
II

O good invincible France,
Sing your peaceful song!
Sing, and look at the sky!
Your joyful and profound voice
Is the hope of the world,
O great brotherly people!

Good people, sing at dawn,
When evening comes, sing again!
Work makes gladness.
Laugh at the old century passing by!
Sing love in a low voice,
And liberty aloud!

Sing holy Italy,
Poland laid in its grave,
Naples reddened by pure blood,
Hungary in its death throes …
O tyrants! the people sing
As the lion roars!

Victor Hugo

Translation generated by Poésies 123 with assistance from the deepseek-chat artificial-intelligence model.

Text published on Poésies 123: https://www.poesies123.com/en/poem-art-and-the-people-victor-hugo/