Lean and mean
Poetry does not have to be complicated, or full of difficult ideas or words. Many people stay away from poetry because they think they will not understand it. They are wrong.
A poem can be simple and lean and still pack a punch. Jacques Prevert's poem Breakfast uses everyday, simple language.There are no long words or difficult ideas. The poem is short, but it says a great deal.
Even the lines of the poem are short, with each one containing only a few words. The poem is about a young man and a woman having a cup of coffee at a cafe one morning. It couldn't be any simpler.
About the poet
Jacques Prevert (1900 - 1977) is one of the most popular French poets of the 20th century. He wrote poems that could be appreciated by ordinary people - not just those who were interested in poetry. His first collection of poems was called Words, and the title says exactly what Prevert wanted to do with his poetry. He wanted to use words and ideas that everyone would connect with. Prevert wrote his poems on the backs of envelopes and empty cigarette packets, and on table clothes in cafes. Many of his poems were set to music and performed in nightclubs in Paris.