Poetry Friday: Victor Hugo

I posted earlier this week about Victor Hugo and Les Miserables, so today I thought I would share one of my favorite Hugo poems. He had an amazing ability to capture a scene and a man's character in such few words. Hugo's father was a soldier for Napoleon. I don't know if this incident actually happened or if Hugo created it from some snippet his father shared or if it was completely from his creative imagination.

After the Battle

Victor Hugo

My father, of all heroes, kindliest,

Attended by the soldier he loved best

(Both for his mighty courage and his height),

Rode, where the battle had been fought, as night

Fell on the slain that cumbered all the ground.

Out of the shadows came a feeble sound.

A Spaniard of the army put to rout

Lay by the road, his life blood ebbing out.

Broken and groaning, on death’s very brink,

He whimpered: “Pity me! A drink! A drink!”

My father offered then to his hussar

A gourd that hung beside his saddle bar.

“Poor wounded man! Give this to him,” he said.

The soldier bent above the livid head

Of one whose mongrel blood had not yet tired

Of hate; who clasped a pistol still and fired;

With aim directed on my father’s brow;

And cried; “Die, Enemy, I curse you now!”

The ball skimmed close—so close his horse reared—then,

“Give him the drink,” my father said again.

Enjoy more Poetry Friday at Liz in Ink.