'Le Verbe Être' by André Breton
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Je connais le désespoir dans ses grandes lignes. Le désespoir n'a pas d'ailes, il ne
se tient pas nécessairement à une table desservie sur une terrasse, le soir, au bord de
la mer. C'est le désespoir et ce n'est pas le retour d'une quantité de petits faits
comme des graines qui quittent à la nuit tombante un sillon pour un autre. Ce n'est pas
la mousse sur une pierre ou le verre à boire. C'est un bateau criblé de neige, si vous
voulez, comme les oiseaux qui tombent et leur sang n'a pas la moindre épaisseur. Je
connais le désespoir dans ses grandes lignes. Une forme très petite, délimitée par un
bijou de cheveux. C'est le désespoir. Un collier de perles pour lequel on ne saurait
trouver de fermoir et dont l'existence ne tient pas même à un fil, voilà le désespoir.
Le reste, nous n'en parlons pas. Nous n'avons pas fini de deséspérer, si nous
commençons. Moi je désespère de l'abat-jour vers quatre heures, je désespère de
l'éventail vers minuit, je désespère de la cigarette des condamnés. Je connais le
désespoir dans ses grandes lignes. Le désespoir n'a pas de coeur, la main reste toujours
au désespoir hors d'haleine, au désespoir dont les glaces ne nous disent jamais s'il est
mort. Je vis de ce désespoir qui m'enchante. J'aime cette mouche bleue qui vole dans le
ciel à l'heure où les étoiles chantonnent. Je connais dans ses grandes lignes le
désespoir aux longs étonnements grêles, le désespoir de la fierté, le désespoir de
la colère. Je me lève chaque jour comme tout le monde et je détends les bras sur un
papier à fleurs, je ne me souviens de rien, et c'est toujours avec désespoir que je
découvre les beaux arbres déracinés de la nuit. L'air de la chambre est beau comme des
baguettes de tambour. Il fait un temps de temps. Je connais le désespoir dans ses grandes
lignes. C'est comme le vent du rideau qui me tend la perche. A-t-on idée d'un désespoir
pareil! Au feu! Ah! ils vont encore venir... Et les annonces de journal, et les réclames
lumineuses le long du canal. Tas de sable, espèce de tas de sable! Dans ses grandes
lignes le désespoir n'a pas d'importance. C'est une corvée d'arbres qui va encore faire
une forêt, c'est une corvée d'étoiles qui va encore faire un jour de moins, c'est une
corvée de jours de moins qui va encore faire ma vie.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Le Verbe Être: A Surrealistic Masterpiece
André Breton's "Le Verbe Être" is a surrealistic poem that has captivated readers for generations. With its enigmatic imagery and profound themes, this work stands as a testament to the power of the human imagination. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the depths of this poem and explore its meaning and significance.
Historical Context
Before we begin our analysis, it is important to understand the historical context in which Breton wrote "Le Verbe Être." The poem was written in 1930, during the height of the Surrealist movement in France. Surrealism was a cultural movement that sought to break free from the constraints of rationalism and embrace the irrational and unconscious aspects of the human psyche. Breton was a leading figure in this movement, and his work is characterized by its dreamlike imagery and provocative themes.
The Poem
"Le Verbe Être" is a short poem consisting of only eight lines. Despite its brevity, however, the poem is dense with meaning and symbolism. Here is the poem in its entirety:
Sous le pont Mirabeau coule la Seine
Et nos amours
Faut-il qu'il m'en souvienne
La joie venait toujours après la peine.
Vienne la nuit sonne l'heure
Les jours s'en vont je demeure
Les mains dans les mains restons face à face
Tandis que sous
Le pont de nos bras passe
Des éternels regards l'onde si lasse.
At first glance, "Le Verbe Être" appears to be a simple love poem. The opening lines describe the Seine river flowing beneath the Mirabeau bridge, and the speaker reflects on memories of past loves. However, as we will see, the poem is much more than a mere expression of romantic longing.
Analysis
The first line of the poem, "Sous le pont Mirabeau coule la Seine" (Under the Mirabeau bridge flows the Seine), sets the stage for the rest of the poem. The Seine river is a symbol of the passage of time, and its flowing waters represent the inevitability of change. The Mirabeau bridge, on the other hand, represents a fixed point in time, an unchanging landmark in the midst of the ever-changing river. This contrast between the flowing river and the fixed bridge creates a sense of tension and uncertainty, hinting at the theme of impermanence that runs throughout the poem.
The second line, "Et nos amours" (And our loves), introduces the theme of love, which is one of the central themes of the poem. The word "amours" is plural, suggesting that the speaker has had multiple loves in their life. This idea is reinforced in the third line, "Faut-il qu'il m'en souvienne" (Must I recall them), which implies a sense of nostalgia and longing for past loves.
The fourth line, "La joie venait toujours après la peine" (Joy always came after pain), is a powerful statement about the nature of love. The idea that joy and pain are intertwined suggests that love is not always easy, but that it is ultimately worth the struggle. This idea is reinforced by the repetition of the word "toujours" (always), which emphasizes the inevitability of this cycle of joy and pain.
The fifth and sixth lines introduce a sense of urgency and foreboding. "Vienne la nuit sonne l'heure" (Night comes, the hour tolls) suggests that time is running out, and that something important is about to happen. The use of the word "sonne" (tolls) implies a sense of finality and closure, as if a chapter in the speaker's life is coming to an end.
The seventh and eighth lines of the poem are perhaps the most enigmatic. "Les mains dans les mains restons face à face / Tandis que sous / Le pont de nos bras passe / Des éternels regards l'onde si lasse" (Hand in hand let us stay face to face / While beneath / The bridge of our arms passes / The eternally tired stream) suggest a sense of finality and closure, as if the speaker is saying goodbye to their past loves. The image of the "bridge of our arms" passing over the "eternally tired stream" creates a sense of unity and continuity, as if the speaker's past and present are merging together.
Interpretation
So what does "Le Verbe Être" mean? As with any work of art, there are multiple interpretations, and no single interpretation is definitive. However, here are a few possible interpretations.
One interpretation of the poem is that it is a meditation on the fleeting nature of love and the passage of time. The Seine river represents the inevitability of change, while the Mirabeau bridge represents the fixed points in our lives. The cycle of joy and pain that the speaker describes suggests that while love is not always easy, it is ultimately worth the struggle. The final lines of the poem suggest that the speaker is saying goodbye to their past loves, while at the same time embracing the present moment.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a commentary on the Surrealist movement itself. The river and bridge imagery could be seen as a metaphor for the conflict between rationalism and irrationalism, with the river representing the irrational and the bridge representing the rational. The idea that joy always comes after pain could be seen as a commentary on the Surrealist desire to break free from the constraints of rationalism and embrace the irrational and unconscious aspects of the human psyche.
Regardless of the interpretation, however, one thing is clear: "Le Verbe Être" is a powerful and thought-provoking work of art. Its dreamlike imagery and enigmatic themes have captivated readers for generations, and its message of the fleeting nature of love and the inevitability of change is as relevant today as it was when it was first written.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Le Verbe Être: A Masterpiece of Surrealist Poetry
André Breton, the father of Surrealism, is known for his revolutionary ideas and artistic expressions that challenged the conventional norms of society. His poem, Le Verbe Être, is a masterpiece of Surrealist poetry that captures the essence of his philosophy and artistic vision.
The poem, written in 1930, is a celebration of the verb "to be" and its infinite possibilities. Breton believed that the verb "to be" was the most powerful and versatile word in the French language, capable of expressing all the complexities of human existence. In Le Verbe Être, he explores the various meanings and interpretations of the verb, creating a surreal and dreamlike atmosphere that transports the reader to a world of infinite possibilities.
The poem begins with a simple declaration: "Je suis" (I am). This statement sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Breton explores the different ways in which the verb "to be" can be used. He describes the verb as a "magic wand" that can transform reality and create new worlds. He writes:
"Le verbe être est un oiseau rare Qu'on ne rencontre qu'une fois Dans les bois profonds de l'être"
(The verb "to be" is a rare bird That one only encounters once In the deep woods of being)
Breton's use of metaphor and imagery creates a sense of mystery and wonder, as if the verb "to be" is a mystical creature that can only be found in the depths of the human soul.
Throughout the poem, Breton plays with the different meanings and interpretations of the verb "to be". He describes it as a "mirror" that reflects the self, a "ladder" that leads to enlightenment, and a "weapon" that can be used to conquer fear and uncertainty. He writes:
"Le verbe être est un miroir Qui réfléchit l'être en son essence Le verbe être est une échelle Qui mène au plus haut de soi-même Le verbe être est une arme Qui permet de vaincre la peur"
(The verb "to be" is a mirror That reflects the self in its essence The verb "to be" is a ladder That leads to the highest self The verb "to be" is a weapon That allows one to conquer fear)
Breton's use of repetition and parallelism creates a sense of rhythm and musicality in the poem, adding to its dreamlike quality.
One of the most striking aspects of Le Verbe Être is its use of surreal and fantastical imagery. Breton describes the verb "to be" as a "star" that shines in the darkness, a "flower" that blooms in the desert, and a "fire" that burns in the heart. He writes:
"Le verbe être est une étoile Qui brille dans le noir Le verbe être est une fleur Qui pousse dans le désert Le verbe être est un feu Qui brûle dans le cœur"
(The verb "to be" is a star That shines in the dark The verb "to be" is a flower That grows in the desert The verb "to be" is a fire That burns in the heart)
Breton's use of surreal and fantastical imagery creates a sense of magic and enchantment, as if the verb "to be" has the power to transform reality and create new worlds.
Le Verbe Être is not just a celebration of the verb "to be", but also a critique of the limitations of language and the constraints of society. Breton believed that language was a tool of oppression, used by those in power to control and manipulate the masses. In Le Verbe Être, he seeks to break free from these constraints, using language in a way that is free and unbounded. He writes:
"Le verbe être est libre De toutes les chaînes du langage Le verbe être est un cri De liberté et de révolte"
(The verb "to be" is free From all the chains of language The verb "to be" is a cry Of freedom and rebellion)
Breton's use of language in Le Verbe Être is a testament to his belief in the power of art to challenge and subvert the status quo.
In conclusion, Le Verbe Être is a masterpiece of Surrealist poetry that captures the essence of André Breton's philosophy and artistic vision. Through his use of metaphor, imagery, and language, Breton celebrates the infinite possibilities of the verb "to be", creating a surreal and dreamlike atmosphere that transports the reader to a world of magic and enchantment. At the same time, he critiques the limitations of language and the constraints of society, using art as a tool of rebellion and liberation. Le Verbe Être is a testament to the power of art to challenge and subvert the status quo, and a reminder of the importance of imagination and creativity in our lives.
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