I had to write a paper about Charles of Orleans in my college French Lit class. Really interesting person, he was the great grand son of Charles V and was captured at the battel of Agincourt and held captive in England from 1415 -1440. His poems are very rich in images and allegory and I thought this poem would appropriate for April. I have it in French and English so enjoy!


      Le Printemps
Par Charles D' Orleans
1391 - 1465

Le temps a laissé son manteau
De vent, de froidure et de pluie,
Et s'est vêtu de broderie,
De soleil luisant, clair et beau.

Il n'y a bête ni oiseau
Qu'en son jargon ne chante ou crie :
Le temps a laissé son manteau
De vent, de froidure et de pluie.

Rivière, fontaine et ruisseau
Portent en livrée jolie
Gouttes d'argent, d'orfèvrerie;
Chacun s'habille de nouveau:
Le temps a laissé son manteau

... et en Anglais
SPRING
CHARLES D'ORLEANS, 1391-1465.

[The new-liveried year.--Sir Henry Wotton.]

The year has changed his mantle cold
Of wind, of rain, of bitter air;
And he goes clad in cloth of gold,
Of laughing suns and season fair;
No bird or beast of wood or wold
But doth with cry or song declare
The year lays down his mantle cold.
All founts, all rivers, seaward rolled,
The pleasant summer livery wear,
With silver studs on broidered vair;
The world puts off its raiment old,
The year lays down his mantle cold.

Courtesy of everypoet.com