Poems of Paul Verlaine

by Paul Verlaine, Gertrude Hall Brownell (Translator), Henry McCarter (Illustrator)

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: Poetry, French Literature, Classics, 19th Century, France

38 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2004

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

[Martyna Antonina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5☆

W poezji Verlaine'a pięknie przeplatają się skrajne delikatności. Brak tu uczuć wyrazistych i żywiołowych, za tu dużo menalcholijnych radości i subtelnych smutków. Jego liryczno-ironiczne utwory zachwycają swoją komunikatywnością i bawią sarkastycznym przekąsem. Wiersze, szczególnie te z "Poematów saturnijskich", "Dobrej piosenki" i "Romansów bez słów" są niemalże malarskie. Impresjonizm pejzaży metafizycznych, które tworzy Verlaine jest w nich ujmująco czuły.
"Mądrość" uważam za najgorszy podtomik. Może to kwestia tego, że poematy religijne nie są mi bliskie, jednak czułam w nich niespójność względem stylu poety.
Za to "Elegie" mają w sobie przewrotną dojrzałość, która może nie była w moim poetyckim guście, ale wciąż niezwykle intrygowała.
Warto też zwrócić uwagę na konstrukcję niektórych dzieł, która perfekcyjnie rezonuje z treścią i oddaje ich klimat, i specyficzny ton.

[Matt Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tend to rate books of poetry based on the overall feeling they leave me with, and by that standard, this collection shares the romantic/religious aspirations and longings of the author fairly well. I wish the poems had dates attached to them so newbies like me could figure out when Verlaine was writing them, but you get what you pay for. As poetry goes, it's not a bad appetizer.

[V]

It might have been the translation, but this book did nothing for me. I might check out another translation of Verlaine sometime since he was supposed to be groundbreaking, but I wouldn't recommend this version to anyone.

[Kastoori · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most riveting poets I have ever come across. Verlaine's poetry is hypnotic and reminiscent of vintage aquarelle paintings. I'd say he is one of the finest French Symbolist poets of all time.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know little about Verlaine. The English translation seems more awkward, words more poorly chosen, than they really ought to be- is this to respect the poet or is it clumsiness?

[Joseph Spuckler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice collection of traditional poems translated from French.

[Diana Trăncău · Rating 3 out of 5]

En sourdine

Tranquil in the twilight dense
By the spreading branches made,
Let us breathe the influence
Of the silence and the shade.

Let your heart melt into mine,
And your soul reach out to me,
'Mid the languors of the pine
And the sighing arbute-tree.

Close your eyes, your hands let be
Folded on your slumbering heart,
From whose hold all treachery
Drive forever, and all art.

[إســرٰاء☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melody of melancholy moonlight