Fantine
Fantine is a main character in the french novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. This poem talks about the struggles of the working class.

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She was joy.
She was modesty.
With a charming toilette,
of lace and silk
coquetry of the young.
Pearlescent teeth,
golden tresses
framing a delicate face.
She laughed,
showing off that fine enamel
worth at least few napoleons,
and when her features
grew pensive,
she retained a look of veneration.
.
Now, she is poverty-stricken
with her wardrobe gone
replaced by dirtied frock.
Her remaining vanity
dressed on a rosy babe
by her breast,
a noble has left her
with child and through farce.
Shrub of hair pulled up in her cap
Fantine with her legacy,
and upon a lowly inn
she leaves her young.
.
Working woman
oh, but thirteen sous per day
ten for her faraway love
the rest for herself
she is worn,
no longer joy, but still modesty.
This Fantine, this creature of twenty two years
she falls asleep with thoughts
of Cosette, her little daughter.
Then the rumors start,
gossips with their malice and greed
the title of disgraced woman
falls upon her,
she is with child, with shame
unwed and uncalled for-
they force her out, rid her of livelihood.
.
Cosette is cold,
Fantine sells her hair
for a piece of frock
sells her incisors for
two napoleons
her fine teeth, sculpted by god
Cosette is ill, the innkeepers write
vultures in the dark
they lie
Fantine, without much
seventeen hours of daily toil
about to lose lodging
to wage deduction
about to lose her child-
sells the last thing left,
her modesty.
.
Woman of the town
no longer pretty, but threadbare looking
she doesn't pay mind
to the first jeer,
that cold morning
palms rubbing, fabric pulled close
but the man's voice
the man's violence
exhumes an old, serpentine anger
she is arrested, assault on a citizen
Fantine begs the inspector
knees chafed,
tears bathe her cheeks
"All for naught, my little daughter.."
and in this light of maternal vision
she is once again-beautiful.
.
On her deathbed,
Fantine waits for her little one
little coughs punctuate every word
but she’s in ecstasies
"Oh sister Simplice! Oh doctor! Oh Monsieur Madeline!
I want my Cosette.
My little Cosette.
Providence has forgiven me,
When i meet her again.
She was beautiful,
Last time i saw her
I clothed her in all my fine silk
You shall see, she is my angel
She is of seven years now, seven years!
Let me see her, i am cured!
I am well now, you don’t believe me…"
© 2020 Veronica Lejano