La bonne chanson

by Paul Verlaine

Le soleil du matin doucement chauffe et dore. - Les seigles et les blés tout humides encore, - Et l'azur a gardé sa fraîcheur de la nuit. - L'on sort sans autre but que de sortir ; on suit, - Le long de la rivière aux vagues herbes jaunes, - Un chemin de gazon que bordent de vieux aunes. - L'air est vif. Par moments un oiseau vole avec - Quelque fruit de la haie ou quelque paille au bec, - Et son reflet dans l'eau survit à son passage. - C'est tout. - C'est tout. Mais le songeur aime ce paysage - Dont la claire douceur a soudain caressé - Son rêve de bonheur adorable, et bercé - Le souvenir charmant de cette jeune fille, - Blanche apparition qui chante et qui scintille, - Dont rêve le poète et que l'homme chérit, - Évoquant en ses vœux dont peut-être on sourit - La Compagne qu'enfin il a trouvée, et l'âme - Que son âme depuis toujours pleure et réclame.

Genres: Poetry, France

26 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1870

About the author

Paul-Marie Verlaine was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry.

Despite Rimbaud admiring his poetry, these poets had a stormy affair which led to Verlaine's incarceration after shooting Rimbaud. This incident indirectly preceded his re-conversion to Roman Catholicism.

Verlaine's last years were particularly marked by alcoholism, drug addiction and poverty.

His poems have inspired many composers, such as Chopin, Fauré and Poldowski.

Art Poétique describes his decadent style and alludes to the relevance of nuances and veils in poetry.

Reviews

[Steven Godin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le bruit des cabarets, la fange du trottoir,
Les platanes déchus s'effeuillant dans l'air noir,
L'omnibus, ouragan de ferraille et de boues,
Qui grince, mal assis entre ses quatre roues,
Et roule ses yeux verts et rouges lentement,
Les ouvriers allant au club, tout en fumant
Leur brûle-gueule au nez des agents de police,
Toits qui dégouttent, murs suintants, pavé qui glisse,
Bitume défoncé, ruisseaux comblant l'égout,
Voilà ma route - avec le paradis au bout.

[Robin Duclos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poésie anecdotique, trop événementielle : si des vers ou certaines strophes isolées donnent à ce recueil certains charmes, l’ordinaire du reste le rabaisse.

[Richard Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure, but I would say that this book of poetry by Verlaine is his most coherent and focused in terms of style and theme. All the poems are lyrical and short. Which, if you like Verlaine, and you like Verlaine's short and lyrical poetry, is a good thing.

That said, Odes in Her Honor, and Songs for Her are also similar in that sense. But they are more direct and carnal than The Good Song, which is more nuanced and restrained. And that would seem to be appropriate given that the object of his passion in this book of poetry is the 16-year old future wife of his. Whereas the object of the other two, written later in life, were much older and more "experienced."

[Ivanko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Svega 5 pjesama u "La Bonne chanson" ne pruža nam ništa neočekivano od Verlainea. Naziv "Bezazlene pjesme" itekako pristaje. Izdvojio bih dvije pjesme: "Buduć zora blista" i "Put mi bješe" koje možemo svesti na zajednički nazivnik, a to je nada u bolje sutra sa vječnom vjerom u ljubav.

5.6/10

I.J.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thème peu original, mais tellement bien écrit. Un délice stylistique.

[Emmanuel Wallart · Rating 5 out of 5]

De charmantes petites pièces amoureuses

[Karima Handy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Très belles images poétiques. Don immortel à la bien-aimée. J'adore Verlaine !