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Paul Eluard
Paul Eluard was a highly influential French poet, considered one of the leading figures of Surrealism and a prominent voice in 20th-century French literature. His poetry, characterized by its lyrical beauty, emotional intensity, and profound exploration of love, freedom, and social justice, evolved through various phases, from early Symbolist influences to his engagement with Surrealism and later, with the Resistance movement. Eluard's work is marked by its accessible yet deeply evocative language, its celebration of the everyday, and its unwavering humanism. He is celebrated for his ability to translate complex emotions and political ideals into powerful and enduring poetic expressions, making him a beloved and critically acclaimed figure.
Curfew
What else could we do, for the doors were guarded,
What else could we do, for they had imprisoned us,
What else could we do, for the streets were forbidden us,
What else could we do, for the town was asleep?
What else could we do, for she hungered and thirsted,
What else could we do, for we were defenceless,
What else could we do, for night had descended,
What else could we do, for we were in love?
