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THE SONG OF THE INGENUES, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography


In "The Song of the Ingénues," Paul Verlaine crafts a portrait of youthful innocence juxtaposed with the subtle undercurrents of impending adulthood. Through the lens of these "ingénues," the poet explores the contradictions inherent in a transitional stage of life-youth at the cusp of worldly understanding, and innocence on the brink of experience.

The poem begins with a stereotypical image of the ingénues as characters who "live with rainbow dews / In seldom read books." They are archetypes, often found in literature but rarely encountered in the complexities of real life. Their existence is as idyllic as the "rainbow dews," beautiful but fleeting. Here, Verlaine delves into the ephemeral nature of innocence, capturing it as if suspended in a moment of eternal beauty.

"As we romp through the fields," the ingénues are entangled with nature, their "happy calls" echoing across an unspoiled landscape. They chase "butterflies," a symbol of ephemeral beauty and transformation, perhaps a metaphor for their own imminent change. The lines encapsulate the carefree and exploratory spirit of youth, as well as the temporary nature of this stage, which must inevitably "yield" to the encroachment of dusk, or adulthood.

The ingénues are also conscious of their appearance. A "shepherdess' bonnet" and "immaculate" white gowns signify their purity, yet also highlight the artifice of their innocence, as if costumed for a particular role. The clothing serves as both shield and performance, blurring the lines between natural innocence and societal expectation.

The "Cavaliers of romances" appear as chivalric figures, yet their "glances, / Greetings, and sighs" are met with both delight and resistance. The ingénues are guarded by their "gigantic / Guardian, our skirts," a humorous yet poignant metaphor for the barriers set up by society to protect-or confine-female innocence. Despite the protective garb, these young women are not oblivious to the cavaliers' attention; they are aware, on some level, of the sexual and emotional dynamics at play.

The poem concludes with an intriguing twist. Despite their youthful innocence, the ingénues foresee themselves as "the future lovers / Of libertines." This line is tinged with irony and a hint of tragedy. The world they inhabit, with its romantic cavaliers and idyllic fields, is temporary, and the poem suggests that their innocence will be replaced by a more complicated, perhaps compromised, form of love.

Verlaine brilliantly captures this liminal stage, where the innocence of the ingénues is both their defining feature and their ultimate limitation. The poem becomes a lyrical exploration of the complexities of growing up, an ode to the impermanence of innocence and the inexorable approach of worldly experience.


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