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Human Form
Translations © by Grant Hicks
Cantata by Francis Poulenc (1899 - 1963)
View original-language texts alone: Figure humaine, FP 120
1. De tous les printemps du monde [sung text not yet checked]
Language: French (Français)
De tous les printemps du monde Celui-ci est le plus laid Entre toutes mes façons d'être La confiante est la meilleure L'herbe soulève la neige Comme la pierre d'un tombeau Moi je dors dans la tempête Et je m'éveille les yeux clairs Le lent le petit temps s'achève Où toute rue devait passer Par mes plus intimes retraites Pour que je rencontre quelqu'un Je n'entends pas parler les monstres Je les connais ils ont tout dit Je ne vois que les beaux visages Les bons visages sûrs d'eux-mêmes Sûrs de ruiner bientôt leurs maîtres.
Text Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Bientôt"
See other settings of this text.
by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard
1. Of all the springtimes of the world
Language: English
Of all the springtimes of the world This one is the ugliest Among all my ways of being The best is to trust The grass lifts up the snow Like a tombstone As for me, I sleep during the storm And awaken with bright eyes The slow short time is coming to an end When every road had to pass By my most intimate retreats So that I might meet someone I do not hear the monsters speaking I know them they have said everything I see only the beautiful faces The good faces sure of themselves Sure soon to ruin their masters.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Bientôt"
Go to the general single-text view
Translations of titles:
"Bientôt" = "Soon"
"Confiance" = "Trust"
"De tous les printemps du monde" = "Of all the springtimes of the world"
This text was added to the website: 2026-04-18
Line count: 17
Word count: 103
Translation © by Grant Hicks
2. En chantant les servantes s’élancent
Language: French (Français)
En chantant les servantes s’élancent Pour rafraîchir la place où l’on tuait Petites filles en poudres vite agenouillées Leurs mains aux soupiraux de la fraîcheur Sont bleues comme une expérience Un grand matin joyeux Faites face à leurs mains les morts Faites face à leurs yeux liquides C’est la toilette des éphémères La dernière toilette de la vie Les pierres descendent disparaissent Dans l’eau vaste essentielle La dernière toilette des heures A peine un souvenir ému Aux puits taris de la vertu Aux longues absences encombrantes Et l’on s’abandonne à la chair très tendre Aux prestiges de la faiblesse.
Text Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard
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by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard
2. The maidservants rush off singing
Language: English
The maidservants rush off singing To refresh the killing square Little powdered girls quickly kneeling Their hands at the fresh air vents Are blue like an experiment A great joyous morning Face their hands you dead Face their liquid eyes It is the bathing of the mayflies The final bathing of one's life Stones tumble disappear Into the vast essential waters The final bathing of the hours Barely a fond memory To wells drained of virtue To long troublesome absences And one gives oneself over to the too tender flesh To the seductions of weakness.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2026-04-18
Line count: 18
Word count: 95
Translation © by Grant Hicks
3. Aussi bas que le silence
Language: French (Français)
Aussi bas que le silence D’un mort planté dans la terre Rien que ténèbres en tête Aussi monotone et sourd Que l’automne dans la mare Couverte de honte mate Le poison veuf de sa fleur Et de ses bêtes dorées Crache sa nuit sur les hommes.
Text Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Aussi bas que le silence"
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Confirmed with Paul Éluard, Œuvres complètes, Vol. 1, Paris: Gallimard, 1968, Page 1061.
by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard
3. As soft as the silence
Language: English
As soft as the silence Of the dead planted in the earth Nothing but darkness in mind As flat and dreary As Autumn in the mere Covered in a dull shame The widowed poison of its flower And of its gilded beasts Spits out its night upon men.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Aussi bas que le silence"
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2026-04-18
Line count: 9
Word count: 48
Translation © by Grant Hicks
4. Toi ma patiente
Language: French (Français)
Toi ma patiente ma patience ma parente Gorge haut suspendue orgue de la nuit lente Révérence cachant tous les ciels dans sa grâce Prépare à la vengeance un lit d’où je naîtrai.
Text Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Patience", appears in Sur les pentes inférieures
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by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard
4. You my patient
Language: English
You my patient my patience my parent Throat held high organ of the slow night Bow hiding all the heavens in its grace Prepare for vengeance a bed whence I shall be born.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Patience", appears in Sur les pentes inférieures
Go to the general single-text view
Translations of titles:
"Patience" = "Patience"
"Toi ma patiente" = "You my patient"
This text was added to the website: 2026-04-18
Line count: 4
Word count: 33
Translation © by Grant Hicks
5. Riant du ciel et des planètes
Language: French (Français)
Riant du ciel et des planètes La bouche imbibée de confiance Les sages Veulent des fils Et des fils de leurs fils Jusqu’à périr d’usure Le temps ne pèse que les fous L’abîme est seul à verdoyer Et les sages sont ridicules.
Text Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Première marche la voix d'un autre"
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by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard
5. Laughing at the sky and at the planets
Language: English
Laughing at the sky and at the planets Their mouths damp with confidence Wise men Wish for sons And for sons for their sons Until they perish of attrition Time weighs only madmen The abyss alone grows green And wise men are absurd.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Première marche la voix d'un autre"
Go to the general single-text view
Translations of titles:
"Première marche la voix d'un autre" = "First Step the Voice of Another"
"Riant du ciel et des planètes" = "Laughing at the sky and at the planets"
This text was added to the website: 2026-04-18
Line count: 9
Word count: 43
Translation © by Grant Hicks
6. Le jour m’étonne et la nuit me fait peur
Language: French (Français)
Le jour m’étonne et la nuit me fait peur
L’été me hante et l’hiver me poursuit
Un animal sur la neige a posé
Ses pattes sur le sable ou dans la boue
Ses pattes venues de plus loin que mes pas
Sur une piste où la mort
A les empreintes de la vie.
Le jour m’étonne et la nuit me fait peur
L’été me hante et l’hiver me poursuit
...
Text Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Un loup"
Go to the general single-text view
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,2,1 of the original text.
by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard
6. Day surprises me and night frightens me
Language: English
Day surprises me and night frightens me
Summer haunts me and Winter pursues me
An animal has placed on the snow
Its paws on the sand or in the mud
Its paws come from farther away than my footsteps
On a track where death
Bears the imprints of life.
Day surprises me and night frightens me
Summer haunts me and Winter pursues me
...
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Un loup"
Go to the general single-text view
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,2,1 of the original text.
Translations of titles:
"Le jour m’étonne et la nuit me fait peur" = "Day surprises me and night frightens me"
"Un loup" = "A Wolf"
This text was added to the website: 2026-04-18
Line count: 7
Word count: 49
Translation © by Grant Hicks
7. La menace sous le ciel rouge
Language: French (Français)
La menace sous le ciel rouge Venait d’en bas des mâchoires Des écailles des anneaux D’une chaîne glissante et lourde La vie était distribuée Largement pour que la mort Prit au sérieux le tribut Qu’on lui payait sans compter La mort était le dieu d’amour Et les vainqueurs dans un baiser S’évanouissaient sur leurs victimes La pourriture avait du cœur Et pourtant sous le ciel rouge Sous les appétits de sang Sous la famine lugubre La caverne se ferma La terre utile effaça Les tombes creusées d’avance Les enfants n’eurent plus peur Des profondeurs maternelles Et la bêtise et la démence Et la bassesse firent place A des hommes frères des hommes Ne luttant plus contre la vie A des hommes indestructibles.
Text Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Un feu sans tache"
Go to the general single-text view
by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard
7. The threat beneath the red sky
Language: English
The threat beneath the red sky Came from underneath jaws From scales from the links Of a heavy and slippery chain Life was distributed Widely so that death Took seriously the tribute That was paid to it freely Death was the god of love And the victors in a kiss Fainted over their victims Decay was emboldened And yet beneath the red sky Beneath the appetite for blood Beneath the dismal famine The cavern closed up The useful earth wiped out The graves dug in preparation The children were no longer afraid Of the maternal depths And foolishness and madness And baseness gave way To men brothers of men No longer contending against life To indestructible men.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Un feu sans tache"
Go to the general single-text view
Translations of titles:
"La menace sous le ciel rouge" = "The threat beneath the red sky"
"Un feu sans tache" = "An Immaculate Fire"
This text was added to the website: 2026-04-18
Line count: 25
Word count: 117
Translation © by Grant Hicks
8. Liberté
Language: French (Français)
Sur mes cahiers d’écolier Sur mon pupitre et les arbres Sur le sable sur la neige J’écris ton nom Sur toutes les pages lues Sur toutes les pages blanches Pierre sang papier ou cendre J’écris ton nom Sur les images dorées Sur les armes des guerriers Sur la couronne des rois J’écris ton nom Sur la jungle et le désert Sur les nids sur les genêts Sur l’écho de mon enfance J’écris ton nom Sur les merveilles des nuits Sur le pain blanc des journées Sur les saisons fiancées J’écris ton nom Sur tous me chiffons d’azur Sur l’étang soleil moisi Sur le lac lune vivante J’écris ton nom Sur les champs sur l’horizon Sur les ailes des oiseaux Et sur le moulin des ombres J’écris ton nom Sur chaque bouffée d’aurore Sur la mer sur les bateaux Sur la montagne démente J’écris ton nom Sur la mousse des nuages Sur les sueurs de l’orage Sur la pluie épaisse et fade J’écris ton nom Sur les formes scintillantes Sur les cloches des couleurs J'écris ton nom Sur la vérité physique ... Sur les sentiers éveillés Sur les routes déployées Sur les places qui débordent J’écris ton nom Sur la lampe qui s’allume Sur la lampe qui s’éteint Sur mes maisons réunies J’écris ton nom Sur le fruit coupé en deux Du miroir et de ma chambre Sur mon lit coquille vide J’écris ton nom Sur mon chien gourmand et tendre Sur ses oreilles dressées Sur sa patte maladroite J’écris ton nom Sur le tremplin de ma porte Sur les objets familiers Sur le flot du feu béni J’écris ton nom Sur toute chair accordée Sur le front de mes amis Sur chaque main qui se tend J’écris ton nom Sur la vitre des surprises Sur les lèvres attentives J’écris ton nom Bien au-dessus du silence ... Sur mes refuges détruits Sur mes phares écroulés Sur les murs de mon ennui ... Sur l’absence sans désir Sur la solitude nue J’écris ton nom Sur les marches de la mort J’écris ton nom Sur la santé revenue Sur le risque disparu Sur l’espoir sans souvenir J’écris ton nom ...
Text Authorship:
- by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Liberté"
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Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-9, 10 (lines 1-2,4,3), 11-16, 17 (lines 1-2,4,3), 18 (lines 1-3), 19 (lines 1-2,4,3-4), 20 of the original text.
by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard
8. Liberty
Language: English
On my student notebooks On my desk and the trees On the sand on the snow I write your name On all the pages read On all the pages left blank Rock blood paper or ashes I write your name On the gilded images On the weapons of warriors On the crowns of kings I write your name On the jungle on the desert On the nests on the brooms On the echo of my childhood I write your name On the wonders of the night On the white bread of day On the affianced seasons I write your name On all my blue rags On the pond moldering sun On the lake vivid moon I write your name On the fields on the horizon On the wings of birds And on the mill of shadows I write your name On each breath of dawn On the sea on the boats On the wild mountain I write your name On the froth of the clouds On the sweat of the storm On the thick and insipid rain I write your name On the sparkling shapes On the colorful bells I write your name On physical truth ... On the awakening paths On the unfolding roads On the overflowing squares I write your name On the lamp that is lit On the lamp that is put out On my reunited houses I write your name On the fruit cut in half Of my mirror and of my room On my bed an empty shell I write your name On my dog greedy and gentle On his erect ears On his clumsy paw I write your name On the springboard of my door On familiar objects On the flood of blessed fire I write your name On all betrothed flesh On the brow of my friends On each offered hand I write your name On the window of surprises On the attentive lips I write your name Far beyond silence ... On my ruined retreats On my fallen lighthouses On the walls of my boredom ... On absence without yearning On naked solitude I write your name On the steps of death I write your name On restored health On vanished danger On hope without memory I write your name ...
Text Authorship:
- Translation from French (Français) to English copyright © 2026 by Grant Hicks, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Eugène Émile Paul Grindel (1895 - 1952), as Paul Éluard, "Liberté"
Go to the general single-text view
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-9, 10 (lines 1-2,4,3), 11-16, 17 (lines 1-2,4,3), 18 (lines 1-3), 19 (lines 1-2,4,3-4), 20 of the original text.
This text was added to the website: 2026-04-18
Line count: 85
Word count: 397
Translation © by Grant Hicks