A problem with poetry is that it cannot be translated, so I’ll refer the originals:
- Correspondences by Baudelaire (what do you get if you mix many drugs in the French noble 1800s)
- The Road not taken by Frost (every choice has a consequence)
- Invictus by Henley (the power of the will and the soul)
- Non chiederci la parola by Montale (the impossibility of knowing)
Can you please share more about what the appeal of Baudelaire is for you?
From an academic level, he stands aside, presenting himself as and taking pride in being a “poet maudit”, a cursed poet. So his themes are very peculiar. But he also has a really good classical education, thus he builds very balanced verses, while often playing with the musicality of words.
For me, very personally, it sounds so incredibly good while being almost over the top dark and tortured. I love the contrast that creates.
The poem I particularly like is the one he chose as introduction of his works. It’s alluring, while alluding to the future corruption. I imagine it to be the call of a new drug.
Okay, just be aware that this is cheesy as hell.
The bells. One of my teachers in Jr high read it for the class.
She had a great voice (but was honestly a bad teacher overall), and it really worked with that poem.
It’s still my favorite poem to read out loud, though others have taken its place otherwise.
