Posterscape Creative Studio

I Carry You Within Me - Art Print

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The words “I carry you within me like a wounded bird” come from the French poet Louis Aragon, taken from his iconic poem "Il n’y a pas d’amour heureux". Written during the turmoil of the Second World War, the poem reflects on love marked by fragility, absence, and resistance. Over time, it became more than just literature: it was set to music and sung by Georges Brassens and later by Françoise Hardy, giving it a second life in the collective memory. The line still lingers, delicate and unresolved, like something left unsaid but deeply felt. We couldn’t resist turning it into an image.

Some words find their way into the bloodstream. This one brought a bird with it. We wanted to turn that sentence into something you could live with and hang in your space. Let it rest quietly on the wall, never shouting.

The woman in the image holds the bird like a secret. The colors? Warm, but not loud. Symbolic, but not solemn. It’s a piece about tenderness, about grief, maybe even love. We’re not here to explain it. We just made it, and honestly, we’re still thinking about it too.

There is no happy love

We never truly possess anything,

Neither our strength, nor our weakness

Nor our heart.

And when we open our arms

Our shadow is that of a cross.

And when we try to embrace

Happiness, we crush it.

Our life is a strange and painful divorce.

There is no happy love.

Like warriors who are now disarmed,

Having been groomed for greater glory –

Why bother getting up in the morning?

If we find ourselves in the evening

Still not knowing what we’re here for?

Repeat these words and hold back your tears.

There is no happy love.

My dear sweet love tears me apart;

I carry it inside me like a wounded bird.

And people don’t know, as they watch us go by,

That these words I have spun for you die

As soon as they meet your eyes.

There is no happy love.

It’s already too late to learn how to live,

Let our hearts mourn together at night.

For the least little song we pay with sadness

For each thrill we pay with regret

Even a sweet melody we pay with weeping.

There is no happy love.

There is no love without pain

There is no love that cannot be bruised

There is no love that cannot fade

Even the love of your country.

There is no love without tears.

There is no happy love.

But this love is ours; for both of us!

Louis Aragon, 1946

Translation, Dora and Patricia Daniel, 2015

Exclusive, expressive wall art designed by Posterscape's talented artists and printed right here in the USA 🇺🇸.
Typical US delivery time: 2–4 business days via our dedicated US logistics partner. Please allow an additional 2–3 days for framed posters due to the extra time required for careful framing.
Our posters are printed on demand in the United States using high‑quality FSC‑certified paper to help protect the world’s forests.
To ensure the best possible finish, we select the paper type based on the artwork’s visual style. Painterly or textured pieces are printed on 200gsm matte art paper, while artworks requiring vibrant, saturated colors—such as abstract gradients or bold graphic designs—are printed on 200gsm semi‑gloss paper.
Enjoy our free framing service! Your framed poster arrives fully assembled and ready to hang, with no extra cost.
High‑quality oak wood frames for a timeless look that complements any US-style interior décor.
Printed locally in the USA for faster delivery and reduced environmental impact.
Domestic shipping across the USA—carefully packed and promptly delivered. International shipping also available.

I Carry You Within Me - Art Print

I Carry You Within Me - Art Print

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