Today is a day of remembrance. I love this poem by Beninese author Richard Dogbeh, Te rappelleras-tu ? (Will You Remember?) published in Cap Liberté, Edition Clé, 1969. This poem is not only a love poem, but also a friendship poem, a hardship poem, and above all a future poem. Beyond the battles that a couple goes through in life, there are joys, wishes, and visions. Further, as one reads this poem, there is also a vision for the country, in this case Benin, for the development of the country which is struggling; this could be applied to the continent as a whole.
For love, the sentence “Will you remember friend that formidable night when love took us by surprise?” says it all. The deep friendship is highlighted by the togetherness and vision, “We will build our lives with faithfulness and pride” or “Look friend of the deadly shores .” One can see hardship in the journey with unity, “we will fight jealousy and envy that destroys the future, the injustice that divides…“. The future is highlighted in “In your eyes, the prophecy shone“… or “the future will be beautiful in our difficult roads…“
Enjoy! This is brought to you by Dr. Y., Afrolegends.com. Te rappelleras-tu ? (Will You Remember?) by Richard Dogbeh published in Cap Liberté, Edition Clé, 1969. Love, love, love…
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Te rappelleras-tu ? / Will You Remember by Richard Dogbeh
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Te rappelleras-tu amie ce soir redoutable Où l’amour nous a surpris tous les deux Dans tes yeux la prophétie scintillait Comme dans toutes les chansons Le bonheur dépendait de nous deux Tout simplement
Dans la tourmente de notre pays Nous combattrons la jalousie et l’envie qui déciment l’avenir l’injustice qui divise Nous combattrons la paresse et la routine Nous bâtirons notre vie fidèle et fière.
Regarde Amie des rives mortelles Impatiente de charité L’harmonie jaillit dans le pays De Cotonou à Malanville
Dans nos jardins et nos maisons Croissant des fleurs aux mille couleurs J’ai lu dans le ciel de nos villes Que l’avenir sera beau Sur nos routes difficiles
Au bord de la mer en furie Il pleuvait ce soir-là et le vent froid nous fouettait le visage Comment se peut-il qu’un flot de bonheur naisse d’une cité d’angoisse Ainsi va la vie Il faut nous armer Il faut nous cacher (…)
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Will you remember my friend this formidable evening Where love surprised us both In your eyes the prophecy was shining As in all songs Happiness depended on both of us Simply
In the turmoil of our country, We will fight the jealousy and envy that are decimating the future and the injustice that divides us. We will fight against laziness and routine. We will build our lives with faithfulness and pride.
Look Friend of the deadly shores Impatient for charity Harmony springs forth in the land From Cotonou to Malanville
In our gardens and our homes Flowers of a thousand colors are blooming I read in the sky above our cities That the future will be beautiful On our difficult roads
On the edge of the raging sea It was raining that evening and the cold wind was lashing our faces How is it possible that a wave of happiness can arise from a city of anguish? That’s how life is. We must arm ourselves. We must hide (…)
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