The Spiritist Review - JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES - 1861

Current Poetry Given by Mr. Dombre

The Peasants and the Oak - (Fable) To Mr. Allan Kardec

(From Marmande who came to Bordeaux for the ceremony)



“The abuse has occult champions, more dangerous than the openly declared ones and the proof of that is the difficulty to uproot them.” Allan Kardec (What is Spiritism)


One day some honest peasants


Proudly standing before a huge oak tree


Measured it with their eyes, large front


- In vain we provide, said one, our seed;


Along those harrowed and well smoked furrows


Fertilizers and sap are consumed; nothing grows


On the many branches and the thick foliage;


All this is such waste


Allowing this tree to impoverish the terrain;


Absorbing our sweat, sterilizing the grain.


Brothers, if you believe me,


Our field will be free


From the unwanted host… and that… on the spot!


Hands on, they shouted in excitement.


They were all strong, ardent.


A rope is tied to the tree, from the top


And there we have a chain;


The forming rings set the strain;


The trembling foliage rustles,


But that is all… they agitate and struggle,


Pulling the robust and tortuous dome,


But the trunk remains strong.


A wise man of the region,


A good old man tells them in-passing: - My children,


Your harvest is gone,


Destroy it… it is okay…


You are on!


But knock it down easily you can’t;


The big oak tree will not faint


Before your arms’ little strength;


Age stiffens the body, inflexible at length.


Deliver the terrible assault more quietly


To the vigorous giant, respectfully.


Centuries have passed by this gnarled bark


Days are needed to undermine its park.


Shine Sunlight onto the root, unveiled


And death will come to the massive frail


When abuse cannot be suppressed in one blow


It is in the foundations that ruin will grow!


C. Dombre



The Hedgehog, the Rabbit and the Magpie (Fable) - To the members of the Spiritist Society of Bordeaux

Charity, my friends, can be done in many ways. You can do it through your thoughts and your works… Guardian spirit of the Spiritist Society of Lyon The Spiritist Review, October 1861


A poor hedgehog driven from his shelter


Wondered in the fields through and deadly thorns,


Under the blows from a child brandishing his clogs


Abandoned it bleeding, bruised and shaken.


He folds his trembling thorny armor.


He extends his eyes around


And since the danger has past, he whispers



A weak and mournful tone:


Where can I hide?


Where shall I flee? ..back to my home Is beyond my will


A thousand dangers that


I cannot predict


Threaten me here…


Will I then die?


I need shelter and some rest


To heal my abrasions.


But, where can I find such nest?


Who will take pity on my pain?


A rabbit living among the debris of a rock,


For whom charity is not just


A vain word, sees the friend’s pain in shock


And approaching says:


My friend, accept you must


Share with me my asylum.


I am well protected in this shelter;


You will be safe.


They can hardly track You down here.


Rest assured that together


Any care you need you shall not lack.


Before such graceful offer


The hedgehog started his slow movement


When an unrecognized magpie, waving


To the rabbit said: - wait a moment,


I beg you… a word… a quick warning;


And turning to the hedgehog: - it is a little private!


Forgive my delay!


Then the good rabbit asks his mate


To keep her voice down, when saying:


How can you bring such people within your fence?


You went too far helping those under!


I would never do such nonsense.


But aren’t you afraid to regret later?


When he is healed and has recovered his strength


You will be the first, perhaps, to suffer the nightmare


Of his bad heart and his thorny health.


How then will you get him out of there?


The rabbit answer: - No worries


Should make us turn away from our generous impulses;


We’d rather be exposed to ingratitude


Than stay away from misfortune!


C. Dombre