“Chanson d’Automne” – Autumn Song – A Poem by Verlaine
November 26th, 2007

Here is one last poem about Autumn before I focus on the topic of the upcoming December holiday season.

I came upon this poem while looking for French podcasts to brush up on my French in anticipation of a trip to France in the Spring. There’s a whole podcast in French devoted to this poem that you can listen to. It inspired me to come up with my own translation, which you can read below.

Chanson d’Automne is a very sad poem that was written by Paul-Marie Verlaine in 1866. Most French people are familiar with this poem as it’s taught in school. French children are often required to learn it by heart.

Chanson d’Automne

Les sanglots longs
Des violons
De l’automne
Blessent mon cœur
D’une langueur
Monotone.

Tout suffocant
Et blême, quand
Sonne l’heure,
Je me souviens
Des jours anciens
Et je pleure;

Et je m’en vais
Au vent mauvais
Qui m’emporte
Deçà, delà,
Pareil à la
Feuille morte.

Autumn Song

The long tears
Of Autumn’s
Violins
Wound my heart
With a monotonous
lethargy.

All suffocating
And pale when
The hour strikes,
I remember
The old days
And I cry…

And I am going away
On an ill wind
That carries me
Here, there,
Just like a
Dead leaf.

Follow the link to hear Chanson d’Automne recited

This article was posted on Monday, November 26th, 2007 at 6:03 pm and is filed under Autumn Song, Chanson d'Automne, Chanson d'Automne, Countries & Cultures, Educational Sites, France, French, French Poems, Language Sites, Languages, Languages, Learning, Mama Lisa, Paul Verlaine, Podcasts, Poems, Poems about the Fall, Poetry, Poetry about the Seasons, Poets, Recommendations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

2 Responses to ““Chanson d’Automne” – Autumn Song – A Poem by Verlaine”

  1. kiana Says:
    November 21st, 2010 at 11:27 am

    your poem was so nice
    make more emotional poems like this again.

  2. Louis Joannes Says:
    February 2nd, 2012 at 11:36 am

    Read more about Paul Verlaine and his poem “chanson d´automne” used during the World War two. A poem that inspires also a lot of French singers:

    http://www.easyfrench-blog.fr/blog/lire-article-604859-4062471-paul_verlaine__chanson_d_automne.html

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