Folklore: Louis Riel Poem Surfaces

Subject: Folklore: Louis Riel Poem Surfaces
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 12:07 PM

An autograph poem written in English by Louis Riel three weeks before he was hanged has been donated to the University of Saskatchewan.

This is of interest to folkies because Riel is the reputed author of the folk song discussed in this thread among others, variously known as "Chanson de Louis Riel", "Ballade de Louis Riel", and "Riel's Farewell".

Does anyone see affinities between the "Chanson" and the poem?
Does anyone think the poem was meant as a song lyric? The fact that the first line consists of just two syllables ("the snow") might mean that the "o" in "snow" was meant to be held for several beats.
Does anyone know of other easily accessed texts by Riel?

Here is the poem, with introductory note:

ROBERT GORDON!

I beg your pardon for so having kept you waiting after some poor verses of mine. You know, my English is not fine. I speak it; but only very imperfectly.

The snow,
Which renders the ground all white,
From heaven, comes here below:
Its pine frozen drops invite us all
To white -- keep our thoughts and our acts,
So that when our bodies do fall,
Our merits, before God, be facts.
How many who, with good desires,
Have died and lost their souls to fires?
Good desires kept unpractic'd
Stand, before God, unnotic'd
O Robert, let us be fond
Of virtue! Virtues abound
In every sort of good,
Let virtue be our soul's food.

Louis "David" Riel
Oct. 27, 1885
Regina Jail


Here is the song, from a posting by Q in the above mentioned thread:

Lyr. Add: CHANSON DE LOUIS RIEL
(Sung by J. G. Jeannotte, attrib. Louis Riel)

C'est au champ de bataille,
J'ai fait écrir' douleurs.
On couche sur la paille
Ca fait frémir les coeurs.

Or, je r'çois t'une lettre
De ma chère maman.
J'avais ni plum' ni encre
Pour pouvoir leur z'écrire.

Or, je pris mon canif,
Je le trempis dans mon sang,
Pour écrir' t'un' vieu' lettre
A ma chère maman.

Quand ell' r'cevra cette lettre
Tout c't' ecritur' en sang.
Ses yeux baign'ront de larmes,
Son coeur sera mourant.

S'y jett' à g'noux par terre
Appelant ses enfants:
Priez pour votre frère
Qu'il est au régiment.

Mourir, s'il faut mourir,
Chacun meurt à son tour;
J'aim' mieux mourir en brave
Faut tou(s) mourir un jour.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Louis Riel Poem Surfaces
From: Mooh
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 12:09 PM

Wow! Thanks for this.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Louis Riel Poem Surfaces
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 01:28 PM

The poem posted by Bob is a welcome addition to the small volume of Riel's verse. A beautiful little poem.
Several others are said to exist in various archives; I hope that they all can be collected into one volume before many more years pass.

The first line, "The snow---" reminds me of a device I have seen before in poetry, a statement which, after a pause, leads to the text.

Those interested in other poems by Riel may be interested in this small collection, to which I gave an incomplete reference before:
Glen Campbell, editor, 1993, "Selected Poetry of Louis Riel," 151pp., Paul Savoie, translator and illustrator, Exile Editions, Toronto. Paperback and not expensive, but elusive.

His "Poesies religieuses et politiques" of 1886 was reprinted (in French) in 1979, Les Editions des Plaines.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Louis Riel Poem Surfaces
From: GUEST,thurg
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 06:29 PM

One of the interesting aspects of this poem is that it was written in English - for the benefit of the anglo jailer (Robert Gordon, apparently). Did Riel write any other (known) poems in English?