a heart with wings - un coeur aux ailes

the world, society as seen through the eyes of teenagers.

 

when the sky is getting dark
and night is falling
like plaster-work on walls
people gather below the
entrances of the city centre
at the subway exits
to look around and
to talk a little bit...

 

they severely told us
that we're not yet mature
to walk on our own
and that we're all equal
but we're the only ones
with a heart with wings
and nobody knows that
we will soon fly...

 

what do we do?
what do we do tonight?
where do we go?
where do we go without any idea?
before one strangles boredom...
what do we do? where do we go?
tonight...

 

for the moment people
start to walk around the city
to the edges of this province
along streets and squares
to hook up girls
that already wait
to see the coloured
day-break outside...

 

nobody has prepared us
for this world that
they forced upon us,
without giving us a chance to be heard.

therefore we are left with
hopeless and serious thoughts
and nobody knows what
an effort it requires to accept
this society which we did not create.

out of you, out of our minds,
what a crowd
what a life, and what remains of it......
we don't want this life of
charity, fake piety,
nobody has asked for it.....

especially not us.........

Let us be,

Set us free.....

For we are just hearts with wings.

 

   French Version (Version Francais)

 

quand le ciel devient
sombre et la nuit tombe
comme le plâtrage sur les murs
on se trouve en compagnie
sous les entrées du centre
aux sorties du métro
pour y regarder dedans
et parler un peu...

ils nous ont dit sévèrement
qu’on n’est pas encore mature
pour marcher seuls
et qu’on est tous égaux
mais un coeur aux ailes
il n’y a que nous qui l’avons
et personne ne sait
qu’il volera bientôt...

ce qu’on fait
ce qu’on fait ce soir
où on va
où on va hors d’une idée
avant qu’on y étrangle l’ennui...
ce qu’on fait, où on va
ce soir...

pour l’instant on commence
à faire un tour dans la ville
jusqu’au fond de la province
par les rues et par les places
à appeler les filles
qui s’y attendent déjà
pour voir dehors
l’aube à couleurs...

que personne n’a préparé
comme le monde
qu’ils nous ont donné
sans ne nous demander rien
c’est pour cela que les pensées
aussi grandes, aussi sérieuses
on les a nous aussi et personne
ne sait quel effort c’est...

hors de toi
hors de toi, hors de la tête
quels gens, quelle vie
et combien en reste
ce qu’on veut
n’est pas ceci
la charité, pitié fausse
personne ne l’a demandée...

Author's Note

when I was a teenager these are the thoughts my friends and I talked about.

Reviews

[Damian Alan Gray]

It is so very sad, the way we treat our young. Our world is in a shambles, and it is left to the upcoming generation to attempt some semblance of emendation. This cannot happen in the same fashion that we have treated the youth in years past. It must be by allowing them the voice to begin reparations now.

[Lorraine Pearson]

Interesting...every generation seems to sing a similar anthem. You penned it very nicely Nico.
~Lorraiyne

[SweetPeachesAlways]

hearts with wings...love it, my friend...oh to be young again! Great write!

[Chloe..Across the Unive..]

I really like this poem spoken for the youth..
Good writing, Nico .. beautiful to me ..

Chloe
xoxo

[verless doran]

A nice enough sentiment, but some of the analogies seem a bit forced
"like plaster-work on walls" for instance

[An owl on the moon]

Powerful piece, the dreams that drive our youth and the ropes we use to tie them down. May we learn to strengthen those wings...

[Jacqueline]

Such an exciting time when you are young and free with the world just waiting to be explored. I liked that the youth weren't cocky, arrogant, or felt entitled-an equal opportunity to live and learn was all that was asked. The French version had a "joie de vive" vibe to it! ;-) Overall, I enjoyed reading this piece.

[Kevin Galbreath]

Well done.

I particularly liked:
"before one strangles boredom..."

An inspired line to fill an inspired poem about youth.

[Sally Edwards]

Great poem Nico, sometimes we forget that teenagers have to learn life too, just as we have to learn parenthood, I like that you wrote about their thoughts and dreams, very powerful. Love the pics too, very nicely put together.

[Kasey Klein]

Nicely spoken, a good portrait, Nico.

[Pinky]

Good piece...:D