1909

Poem by Guillaume Apollinaire Collection AlcoolsThemes LovePeriod 20th century

The lady had a dress
Of violine ottoman
And her tunic embroidered with gold
Was made of two panels
Fastening at the shoulder

Her eyes dancing like angels
She laughed she laughed
She had a face in the colors of France
Blue eyes white teeth and very red lips
She had a face in the colors of France

She was cut round at the neck
And her hair done à la Récamier
With lovely bare arms

Will we never hear midnight strike

The lady in the violine ottoman dress
And the tunic embroidered with gold
Cut round at the neck
Walked her curls about
Her golden headband
And trailed her little buckled shoes

She was so beautiful
That you would not have dared to love her

I loved atrocious women in the enormous neighborhoods
Where each day new beings were born
Iron was their blood flame their brain
I loved I loved the skillful people of machines
Luxury and beauty are only their foam
This woman was so beautiful
That she frightened me

Guillaume Apollinaire

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