7 Victor Hugo Poems

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Memory of the Night of the 4th

In ‘Memory of the Night of the 4th,’ Victor Hugo vividly conveys the devastating impact of violence on innocence and humanity.

This poem is representative of Victor Hugo's poetic style and thematic concerns. Hugo was known for his powerful and emotionally charged poetry, often addressing social and political issues, as well as the human condition. This poem, like much of his work, delves into the emotional impact of tragic events, condemns violence, and highlights the suffering of ordinary people. It also contains vivid imagery, symbolic elements, and a critical perspective on political power, all of which are characteristics often found in Hugo's poems. So, while it may not encapsulate the entirety of his extensive body of work, it does align with his general style and thematic interests.

The child had received two bullets to the head.

The home was tidy, humble, peaceable, respectable;

There was a blessed branch above a portrait.

The grandmother was there, weeping.

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More Strong Than Time

‘More Strong Than Time’ by Victor Hugo is a powerfully romantic poem that declares love as withstanding the withering effects of time.

This poem by Victor Hugo offers a glimpse into the radiance of love and its stimulating effect on the speaker. Through his use of imagery and metaphor, the poet illustrates the intimate depths of the two lovers' relationship. But it also provides an example of love's power to make someone far bolder than they would be without it.

Since I have set my lips to your full cup, my sweet,

Since I my pallid face between your hands have laid,

Since I have known your soul, and all the bloom of it,

And all the perfume rare, now buried in the shade;

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The Grave and The Rose

‘The Grave and The Rose’ by Victor Hugo is an intriguing poem that inquires and attempts to answer essential questions about death and change.

This poem by Victor Hugo offers a hopeful and faith-filled perception of death, one that tries to soothe the reader with its ethereal imagery and figurative language into viewing it as just another kind of change experienced in the course of life. It is a beautiful poem that uses personification to comment on human death.

The Grave said to the Rose,

"What of the dews of dawn,

Love's flower, what end is theirs?"

"And what of spirits flown,

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Tomorrow, At Dawn

‘Tomorrow, At Dawn’ by Victor Hugo follows the speaker as they journey to the grave of a loved one, capturing all the ways in which grief has become their sole fixation.

This poem by Victor Hugo offers a stunning self-portrait of the grief endured by the poet after the death of his daughter. One that puts on display his ability to convey the depths of human suffering with painfully realistic impressions. It's certainly not the only poem written about the tragedy, but its portrayal of the speaker's journey to the grave is devastatingly poignant.

Tomorrow, at dawn, at the hour when the countryside whitens,

I will set out. You see, I know that you wait for me.

I will go by the forest, I will go by the mountain.

I can no longer remain far from you.

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Sunset

Hugo’s ‘Sunset’ uses the sunset as a symbol to explore the grim truth of human mortality, soothed by observing nature’s cyclic beauty.

This poem by Victor Hugo was composed as part of a series written between 1828 and 1831. They reveal the profound ways the poet could elicit from his surroundings such beautiful verses about nature, life, and death. Fueled by his ardently life-affirming sentiments, the poem underscores his awe over creation and reverence for humanity's meager placement within it.

The sun set this evening in masses of cloud,

The storm comes to-morrow, then calm be the night,

Then the Dawn in her chariot refulgent and proud,

Then more nights, and still days, steps of Time in his flight.

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After the Battle

In ‘After the Battle,’ Victor Hugo explores compassion amid war, highlighting the moral strength of kindness despite betrayal.

While 'After the Battle' by Victor Hugo showcases some of the themes and qualities found in his poetry, it may not fully encapsulate the breadth and complexity of his poetic works. Victor Hugo was known for his versatility as a poet, delving into a wide range of subjects and styles throughout his career. This particular poem emphasizes themes of compassion, betrayal, and the complexities of human behavior during wartime, which can be found in some of Hugo's other works. While 'After the Battle' is a notable piece, it is just one facet of Hugo's poetic talent."

MY father, hero of benignant mien,

On horseback visited the gory scene,

After the battle as the evening fell,

And took with him a trooper loved right well,

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The Sower

‘The Sower’ by Victor-Marie Hugo reveals the musings of a poet persona as he observes an old sower working in his fields till night.

Sitting in a porchway cool,

Fades the ruddy sunlight fast,

Twilight hastens on to rule--

Working hours are wellnigh past

Home › Poets › Victor Hugo Poems

Memory of the Night of the 4th

More Strong Than Time

The Grave and The Rose

Tomorrow, At Dawn

Sunset

After the Battle

The Sower

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