Added: Oct 6, 2008
Author: poetryanimations
Duration: 3:14
Heres a virtual movie of the legendary French poet Charles Baudelaire (1821 - 1867) reading his poem "Le Balcon" (The Balcony).The superb reading is by Pierre Viala Charles Baudelaire was a 19th century French poet, translator, and literary and art critic whose reputation rests primarily on Les Fleurs du mal; (1857;The Flowers of Evil) which was perhaps the most important and influential poetry collection published in Europe in the 19th century. Similarly, his Petits poèmes en prose (1868; "Little Prose Poems") was the most successful and innovative early experiment in prose poetry of the time.Known for his highly contraversial, and often dark poetry, as well as his translation of the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, Baudelaire's life was filled with drama and strife, from financial disaster to being prosecuted for obscenity and blasphemy. Long after his death many look upon his name as representing depravity and vice: Others see him as being the poet of modern civilization, seeming to speak directly to the 20th century. Kind RegardsJim ClarkAll rights are reserved on this video recording copyright Jim Clark 2008Heres one of several translations into English of this wonderful poem...The BalconyMistress of mistresses, mother of memories, O you my every pleasure, you my every duty! You shall recall our blandishments and ecstasies, The warm peace of our hearth, the evening's placid beauty. Mistress of mistresses, mother of memories!Evenings illumined by the glow of coals afire Or on the balcony, veiled in a rosy mist. How soft your breast, how kind your heart to my desire! We said imperishable things the while we kissed, Evenings illumined by the glow of coals afire.How glorious the sunset on warm summer nights! How deep space is! the human heart how competent! As I bent over you, queen of my soul's delight, I thought I breathed your blood with its suave acrid scent. How glorious the sunset on warm summer nights!The night grew dense, forming a wall to compass us, Across the dark your eyes bound mine with golden bands, I drank your breath in deep, O sweet, O poisonous! Your slender feet slept softly in my gentle hands. The night grew dense, forming a wall to compass us.The resurrection of glad moments is an art I know: I live anew, my head pressed to your knees, For where, if not in your loved flesh and tender heart,Can I seek out the wonder of your languidness?The resurrection of glad moments is an art.These vows, these fragrant scents, these kisses without end,Shall they be born again out of infinity?As suns rejuvenated in the skies ascend,Having been laved in the unfathomable sea?— O vows! O fragrant scents! — O kisses without end!— Jacques LeClercq, Flowers of Evil (Mt Vernon, NY: Peter Pauper Press, 1958)
Channel: Music
Tags: animation balcon baudelaire fleurs french l'ennemi le les manley poe poem poesie poetry rossett réversibilité
Rating: 4.33 (6 ratings) Views: 715' favoriteCount='7 Comments: 5