Antoine Pol
Encyclopedia
Antoine Pol was a French
poet
(born in Douai
on August 23, 1888, died in Seine-Port
on June 21, 1971).
As an artillery
captain
, he fought in the First World War, and later worked at the Houve mines in Strasbourg
in 1919.
In 1945, he became president of the Central Syndicate of Carbon Importers of France. When he retired
in 1959, he was finally able to pursue his passions: poetry, books and butterflies.
Antoine Pol is above all known as the author of the poem Les Passantes, set to music and interpreted by Georges Brassens
in 1972 in his album Fernande. Fabrizio de André
translated the song into Italian in his album Canzoni, which came out in 1974. Brassens' adaptation omitted two stanzas; Richard Parreau sang and recorded the entire poem in 1998.
When George Brassens discovered this poem, he asked Antoine Pol for permission to set it to music, which the latter granted. Brassens, wanting to meet him, arranged for a meeting to take place after a month, but Antoine Pol passed away a week before he could meet him. One of Brassens' greatest regrets was never to have met Antoine Pol.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
(born in Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
on August 23, 1888, died in Seine-Port
Seine-Port
Seine-Port is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * * *...
on June 21, 1971).
As an artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
, he fought in the First World War, and later worked at the Houve mines in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
in 1919.
In 1945, he became president of the Central Syndicate of Carbon Importers of France. When he retired
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
in 1959, he was finally able to pursue his passions: poetry, books and butterflies.
Antoine Pol is above all known as the author of the poem Les Passantes, set to music and interpreted by Georges Brassens
Georges Brassens
Georges Brassens , 22 October 1921 – 29 October 1981), was a French singer-songwriter and poet.Brassens was born in Sète, a town in southern France near Montpellier...
in 1972 in his album Fernande. Fabrizio de André
Fabrizio De André
Fabrizio De André was an Italian singer-songwriter.Known for his sympathies towards anarchism, libertarianism, and pacifism, he also was a convicted atheist , and his songs often featured marginalized and rebellious people, prostitutes and knaves, and attacked the Catholic Church...
translated the song into Italian in his album Canzoni, which came out in 1974. Brassens' adaptation omitted two stanzas; Richard Parreau sang and recorded the entire poem in 1998.
When George Brassens discovered this poem, he asked Antoine Pol for permission to set it to music, which the latter granted. Brassens, wanting to meet him, arranged for a meeting to take place after a month, but Antoine Pol passed away a week before he could meet him. One of Brassens' greatest regrets was never to have met Antoine Pol.