THE GENESIS OF BUTTERFLIES

by: Victor Hugo (1802-1885)

HE dawn is smiling on the dew that covers

The tearful roses; lo, the little lovers

That kiss the buds, and all the flutterings

In jasmine bloom, and privet, of white wings,

That go and come, and fly, and peep and hide,

With muffled music, murmured far and wide.

Ah, the Spring time, when we think of all the lays

That dreamy lovers send to dreamy mays,

Of the fond hearts within a billet bound,

Of all the soft silk paper that pens wound,

The messages of love that mortals write

Filled with intoxication of delight,

Written in April and before the May time

Shredded and flown, playthings for the wind's playtime,

We dream that all white butterflies above,

Who seek through clouds or waters souls to love,

And leave their lady mistress in despair,

To flit to flowers, as kinder and more fair,

Are but torn love-letters, that through the skies

Flutter, and float, and change to butterflies.

• Amy Robsart - A history of Victor Hugo's first play.
• Hernani - Analysis of the play which brought the battle between French Classicists and Romantics to a head on February 25, 1830.
• Hugo's Boyhood - A biographical account of Victor Hugo's early years.
• Hugo's Cromwell - A brief analysis of Hugo's historical drama Cromwell.
• Hugo's First Publication - A biographical account of Victor Hugo's early literary career.
• Hugo's Honors and Exile - A biographical account of Hugo's later years.
• Inez de Castro - A brief analysis of Hugo's oldest surviving drama.
• Victor Hugo - An introduction to French dramatist Victor Hugo.
• Victor Hugo (1802-1885) - A biography of the French novelist, dramatist, and poet.
• Victor Hugo Index - An index of articles on Victor Hugo.
• Victor Hugo: Bibliography - A bibliography of the works of Victor Hugo; includes a list of critical and biographical resources.
• Purchase books by Victor Hugo