Ode to our language

Le Regard Libre Special Issue on «The French Language» – Jonas Follonier

Tonight, as I listen to a song, I'd like to...
And moved by the radiance of that setting sun,
To pay tribute to all those who have passed on their art to me,
Who, at the blackboard, taught me about Ronsard,
But also to you, the subject of my poem,
Who offers me a hundred ways to tell you «I love you»:
I am, of course, referring to the French language,
The language spoken by Victor, François, and Blaise.
You who were once pure, for nearly a hundred years,
You, my reason for living and for dying content
To have felt you in my body, in my mind,
With your bold words, your charming epithets,
You, the Parisian dialect spoken in the provinces,
You, the scourge of the wicked and the voice of princes,
Stay true to yourself; resist Anglicisms,
Show the whole world what makes you unique.
Let your splendor shine; hold on to your dreams.
You are the worthy mother of our identity!
A diary reveals an intimate thought;
Did I dare to express this love in these verses?
Yes, because it's the simplest and the first one there is.
This special edition is dedicated to you.

Write to the author: [email protected]

Photo credit: © poesie.tableau-noir.net