Jacques Prevert (4 February 1900 – 11 April 1977 / Neuilly-sur-Seine)

''An orange on the table,
Your dress on the rug,
And you in my bed,
Sweet present of the present,
Cool of night,
Warmth of my life.''
Jacques Prévert (1900-1977), French poet. "Alicante," Paroles (1946), trans. by Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1958).
''Man
You beheld the saddest and dreariest of all the flowers of the earth
And as with other flowers you gave it a name
You called it Thought.''
Jacques Prévert (1900-1977), French poet. Flowers and Wreaths, Paroles (1946), trans. by Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1958). Opening lines of poem.
''Even if happiness forgets you a little bit, never completely forget about it.''
Jacques Prévert (1900-1977), French poet. "Intermede," Spectacle (1951).
''When truth is no longer free, freedom is no longer real: the truths of the police are the truths of today.''
Jacques Prévert (1900-1977), French poet. "Intermède," Spectacle (1951).
''Our Father which art in heaven
Stay there
And we will stay on earth
Which is sometimes so pretty.''
Jacques Prévert (1900-1977), French poet. Pater Noster, Paroles (1946; rev.1949), trans. by Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1958). Opening lines.

Quotations