The Possessed

Charles Baudelaire 1821 (Paris) – 1867 (Paris)



The sun in crepe has muffled up his fire.
Moon of my life! Half shade yourself like him.
Slumber or smoke. Be silent and be dim,
And in the gulf of ennui plunge entire;

I love you thus! However, if you like,
Like some bright star from its eclipse emerging,
To flaunt with Folly where the crowds are surging --
Flash, lovely dagger, from your sheath and strike!

Light up your eyes from chandeliers of glass!
Light up the lustful looks of louts that pass!
Morbid or petulant, I thrill before you.

Be what you will, black night or crimson dawn;
No fibre of my body tautly drawn,
But cries: "Beloved demon, I adore you!"

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 26, 2023

35 sec read
90

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABBA CDDC EEF GGF
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 611
Words 118
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 3, 3

Charles Baudelaire

Charles Pierre Baudelaire was a French poet who also produced notable work as an essayist, art critic, and pioneering translator of Edgar Allan Poe. more…

All Charles Baudelaire poems | Charles Baudelaire Books

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