Sketches of Hospitality, Poem by Charles Cros

Poem by Charles Cros Collection The Sandalwood CasketPeriod 19th century

To Démètre Perticari

Perfumes, flowers, shawls, necklaces
In a vast château.
Happy lovers on every landing,
People of high caste.
Hams yellowed, drying under the hood
Of the chimney.
(Outside one hears the wind’s song
Never ended,
Legend borrowed from ancient times
Plaintive or lascivious.)
Cats, gentle to the hand, rough great dogs.
The washing is done.
In a corner, among bows, nets,
Green-molded gaiters,
Rusty pheasants, violet jays,
Feathers grown cold.
Fish gleaming blue under the gray wire
Of the game bag
With which will be perfumed saucepans, grills,
Steam of the soup tureen.

And then, at supper, everyone is drunk
With wine and beer.

Charles Cros

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