The Artless Ones, Poem by Paul Verlaine

Poem by Paul Verlaine Collection Fêtes galantesThemes SatirePeriod 19th century

The high heels struggled with the long skirts,
So that, depending on the ground and the wind,
At times glimpses of stockinged legs shone, too often
Cut off! — and we loved this game of dupes.

At times too the sting of a jealous insect
Troubled the neck of the beauties beneath the branches,
And there were sudden flashes of white napes,
And this feast filled our young mad eyes.

Evening was falling, an equivocal autumn evening:
The beauties, hanging dreamily on our arms,
Then said words so specious, softly,
That our soul since that time trembles and wonders.

Paul Verlaine

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