Mentons carr\u00e9s et gros, cheveux pesants et roux,
\nIls se dressent, l\u00e0-bas, \u00e0 l\u2019horizon des \u00e2ges,
\nDans un emm\u00ealement de grands gestes sauvages,
\nParmi les \u00eelots gris d\u2019un sol poreux et mou.<\/p>\n
De l\u2019eau au loin, partout. \u00c0 peine un coin de terre ;
\n\u00c0 peine un buisson mort, sur un tertre fangeux ;
\nEt la pluie et le vent et le brouillard rugueux
\nEt, vers le soir, le r\u00e2le ou l\u2019aboi du tonnerre.<\/p>\n
Thor est ma\u00eetre du ciel. \u00c0 coups jaunes d\u2019\u00e9clairs,
\nIl \u00e9branle le c\u0153ur retentissant du monde ;
\nEt seuls, les becs claquants des \u00e9chassiers, r\u00e9pondent
\nAu brusque assaut de ses fureurs \u00e0 travers l\u2019air.<\/p>\n
Eux, les hommes, puisant la force en leur cervelle,
\nPeinent unis, vaillants, \u00e2pres et r\u00e9sign\u00e9s,
\nForgeant des mots voisins du cri pour d\u00e9signer,
\nDans un effort commun, leurs besognes nouvelles.<\/p>\n
Ils font ce que jamais nul \u00eatre humain ne fit
\nDepuis que le soleil br\u00fble, dans les cieux vastes :
\nLes bords de l\u2019Univers que l\u2019oc\u00e9an d\u00e9vaste
\nIls les volent \u00e0 l\u2019eau pour en faire un pays.<\/p>\n
De l\u2019aube au soir, avant que les lourdes mar\u00e9es,
\nVague apr\u00e8s vague, aient remont\u00e9 l\u2019amas des flots,
\nChacun marquant sa place et choisissant son lot
\nR\u00eave d\u2019assujettir la mer d\u00e9mesur\u00e9e.<\/p>\n
Rus\u00e9s et patients, comme les \u00e9l\u00e9ments,
\nRecommen\u00e7ant l\u2019effort qui, tous les jours, \u00e9choue
\nPour conqu\u00e9rir, gr\u00e2ce aux reflux, un peu de boue,
\nIls semblent s\u2019acharner \u00e0 un travail d\u00e9ment.<\/p>\n
Mais telle est leur ardeur raisonn\u00e9e et prodigue,
\nQu\u2019avec des Joncs couch\u00e9s, qu\u2019avec des troncs debouts,
\nDans les vases, la pourriture et les cailloux,
\nIls parviennent quand m\u00eame \u00e0 maintenir leurs digues.<\/p>\n
Le souci du futur crie en leurs c\u0153urs battants,
\nPlus haut que tous les flots hurlant, sous les tonnerres.
\nLes fils h\u00e9riteront du front t\u00eatu des p\u00e8res
\nDans cet \u0153uvre qui va de cent ans en cent ans.<\/p>\n
Et tels, sous les deux lourds et les brouillards de cendre,
\nAvec leurs yeux, leurs dents, leurs reins, leurs pieds, leurs bras,
\nViolemment, inventent-ils ce sol ingrat
\nD\u2019o\u00f9 surgira, un jour, aux temps d\u2019orgueil, la Flandre.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"annee":[711],"poems-book":[697],"poemes-theme":[],"poete":[654],"class_list":["post-15616","poemes","type-poemes","status-publish","hentry","annee-711","poems-book-les-heros","poete-emile-verhaeren"],"yoast_head":"\n