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Poetry Archives

A continuing selection of classic and contemporary poems.

Colombine

Paul Verlaine

Léandre le sot,
Pierrot qui d’un saut
    De puce
Franchit le buisson,
Cassandre sous son
    Capuce,

Arlequin aussi,
Cet aigrefin si
    Fantasque
Aux costumes fous,
Ses yeux luisants sous
    Son masque,

—Do, mi, sol, mi, fa,—
Tout ce monde va,
    Rit, chante
Et danse devant
Une belle enfant
    Méchante

Dont les yeux pervers
Comme les yeux verts
    Des chattes
Gardent ses appas
Et disent: «A bas
    Les pattes!»

—Eux ils vont toujours!
Fatidique cours
    Des astres,
Oh! dis-moi vers quels
Mornes ou cruels
    Désastres

L’implacable enfant,
Preste et relevant
    Ses jupes,
La rose au chapeau,
Conduit son troupeau
    De dupes?
Online text © 1998-2009 Poetry X. All rights reserved.
From Oeuvres complètes de Paul Verlaine, Vol. 1 | 1902
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