Déjeuner du Matin – Jacques Prévert

Jacques Prévert was a French poet and screenwriter. His poems remain very popular in the French-speaking world, particularly in schools. His poems are often about life in Paris and life after the Second World War. Some of the movies he wrote are extremely well regarded, with “Les Enfants du Paradis” considered one of the greatest films of all time. In 1945, Prévert wrote “Paroles”; This book became the best-selling volume of poetry ever published and was seen as a wonderful and fresh wave after the war. After World War II, Prévert came back to Paris. During his entire life, Prévert stayed an antimilitarist and a peace activist.

Watch this short film illustrating the famous poem “Déjeuner du matin”…

2. Now, you can listen to the Audio & Practise your pronunciation In the first listening, I suggest you don’t look at the words below, just repeat after me. Then in the second listening, you could read the poem at the same time as me. This is a great pronunciation exercise! Then, you could watch the short film another time & try to remember the poem without looking at the words…Great Practice of the passé-composé…

Il a mis le café Dans la tasse Il a mis le lait Dans la tasse de café Il a mis le sucre Dans le café au lait Avec la petite cuiller (I am pronouncing it as “cuillère“) Il a tourné Il a bu le café au lait Et il a reposé la tasse Sans me parler Il a allumé Une cigarette Il a fait des ronds Avec la fumée Il a mis les cendres Dans le cendrier Sans me parler Sans me regarder Il s’est levé Il a mis Son chapeau sur sa tête Il a mis Son manteau de pluie Parce qu’il pleuvait Et il est parti Sous la pluie Sans une parole Sans me regarder Et moi j’ai pris Ma tête dans mes mains Et j’ai pleuré.

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