Songs

Homme au sourire tendre

by Francis Poulenc From La Fraîcheur et le Feu (1950) FP 147

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Text & Translation

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Homme au sourire tendre
French source: Paul Éluard

Homme au sourire tendre
Femme aux tendres paupières
Homme aux joues rafraîchies
Femme aux bras doux et frais
Homme aux prunelles calmes
Femme aux lèvres ardentes
Homme aux paroles pleines
Femme aux yeux partagés
Homme aux deux mains utiles
Femme aux mains de raison
Homme aux astres constant
Femme aux seins de durée

Il n'est rien qui vous retient
Mes maîtres de m'éprouver.

Man with the tender smile
English translation © Richard Stokes

Man with the tender smile
Woman with the tender eyelids
Man with the freshened cheeks
Woman with the sweet fresh arms
Man with the calm eyes
Woman with the ardent lips
Man with abundant words
Woman with the shared eyes
Man with the useful hands
Woman with the hands of reason
Man with the steadfast stars
Womans with the enduring breasts

There is nothing that prevents you
My masters from testing me.

Translation © Richard Stokes, from A French Song Companion (Oxford, 2000)

Homme au sourire tendre
French source: Paul Éluard

Man with the tender smile
English source: Richard Stokes

Homme au sourire tendre
Man with the tender smile
Femme aux tendres paupières
Woman with the tender eyelids
Homme aux joues rafraîchies
Man with the freshened cheeks
Femme aux bras doux et frais
Woman with the sweet fresh arms
Homme aux prunelles calmes
Man with the calm eyes
Femme aux lèvres ardentes
Woman with the ardent lips
Homme aux paroles pleines
Man with abundant words
Femme aux yeux partagés
Woman with the shared eyes
Homme aux deux mains utiles
Man with the useful hands
Femme aux mains de raison
Woman with the hands of reason
Homme aux astres constant
Man with the steadfast stars
Femme aux seins de durée
Womans with the enduring breasts

Il n'est rien qui vous retient
There is nothing that prevents you
Mes maîtres de m'éprouver.
My masters from testing me.

Composer

Francis Poulenc

Francis Jean Marcel Poulenc (F7 January 1899 – 30 January 1963) was a French composer and pianist. His compositions include mélodies, solo piano works, chamber music, choral pieces, operas, ballets, and orchestral concert music. Read the full…

Poet

Paul Éluard

Paul Éluard was a French poet and one of the founders of the surrealist movement.

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