Ballade About Two Elm Saplings He Had

Poem by Paul Verlaine Themes NaturePeriod 19th century

To Léon Vanier.

My garden was sweet and light,
As long as it was my humble wealth:
Half kitchen garden and half orchard,
With some flower standing tall
The color of love and gladness,
And birds on the branches,
And grass for idleness.
But nothing was worth my elm saplings.

In my bright dining room
Where wine worked some prowess,
I saw them both sway
Gently in the wind that presses them
One toward the other in a caress,
And their leaves fluted words.
The enclosure was full of tenderness.
But nothing was worth my elm saplings.
Alas! When I had to change
Skies and leave my joy,
The orchard and the kitchen garden
Shared my sadness,
And the flower of charming color,
And the grass, pillow of my ills,
And the bird, knew my distress.
But nothing was worth my elm saplings.

ENVOI

Prince, I have tasted the simplicity
Of living happy in your hamlets:
Gaiety, health that nothing wounds.
But nothing was worth my elm saplings.

Paul Verlaine

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