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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE FORMER LIFE, by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Long years I lived under vast porticoes Last Line: To fathom that made all my being languish. | |||
Long years I lived under vast porticoes That thousand fires of ocean suns stained bright. Their huge, straight, stately columns, at twilight, As if in grottoes of basalt uprose. The coursing waves, where rolled the imaged skies, Mingled in their mysterious, solemn modes Reverberant music, surging strophic odes, With sunset colors flashing on my eyes. There dwelt I in the long voluptuous calms Amid those splendors, azure skies, the waves, And bodies heavy with perfumes, nude slaves Who fanned my forehead with great leaves of palms And knew one care alone: that secret anguish To fathom that made all my being languish. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...DON JUAN IN HELL by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE A VOYAGE TO CYTHERA by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE AFFINITIES by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE ANYWHERE OUT OF THE WORLD by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE ANYWHERE OUT OF THE WORLD by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE AT ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE BE DRUNK by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE BEATRICE by CHARLES BAUDELAIRE |
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