Sonnet to Mme S. C., Poem by Charles Cros

Poem by Charles Cros Collection The Sandalwood CasketPeriod 19th century

To Madame S. C.

Although Parisian in every way, you have
Preserved within your being a pastoral fragrance,
Immaterial legacy of the poems dreamed
By your mother; thus your form is explained.

Indeed, your voice has sounds derived
From the slow and melancholic Berrichon speech,
And all your movements, which I have closely observed,
Make me think of Ruth, the biblical gleaner.

From you escapes a vague aroma of ripe hay.
Like those of the lizards that sleep on the walls,
Your eyes full of sunlight are ready for any alarm,

And, out of kindness for those these eyes have touched,
Under worldly and cunning appearances, you hide
That you love, at bottom, only the green countryside.

Charles Cros

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