Born the Child of the Great Cities, Poem by Paul Verlaine

Poem by Paul Verlaine Collection WisdomThemes ReligionPeriod 19th century

Born the child of the great cities
And of servile revolts,
There I sought everything, found everything,
Of every appetite dreamed of.
But, since nothing of it remains,

I have said a light farewell
To all that can change,
To pleasure, to happiness itself,
And even to all that I love
Apart from you, my sweet Lord!

The Cross has taken me on its wings
Which carry me to better zeal,
Silence, expiation,
And the harsh vocation
For the virtue that knows not itself.

Sweet, dear Humility,
Water my charity,
Steep it in your living waters.
O my heart, may you live
Only for the ends of a good death!

Paul Verlaine

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