Long Symbolist Poems

Renee Vivien Translations


Song
by Renée Vivien
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

When the moon weeps,
illuminating flowers on the graves of the faithful,
my memories creep
back to you, wrapped in flightless wings.

It's getting late; soon we will sleep
(your eyes...

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These are my modern English translations of sonnets by the French poet Stephane Mallarme.

The Tomb of Edgar Poe
by Stéphane Mallarmé
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

Transformed into himself by Death, at last,
the Bard unsheathed his Art’s...

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Excuse my rambling on so, 
                        but my style ought to be
...

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Early days as a flaneur;
I recall the couple 
On the Metro
When I was still innocent 
Of its labyrinthine complexities;
Slim pretty white girl,
Clad head to toe 
In new blue denim, 
Wistfully smiling
While her muscular black beau...

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"The Three Ages of Woman," painted by
   the noted symbolist named Gustav Klimt;
from Austria, late-nineteenth century
   till early twentieth, he left his mark.

At center, woman with her child held close;
 ...

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battle of the sexes


~~MONA LISA SMILE
Picture Oil painting worthwhile 
Leonardo DA Vinci, look out!
What is she really smiling about?

(((The popularity of the Mona Lisa increased in the mid 19th century 
because of the Symbolist movement....

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THE MUSE

I shall leave the city, the bustling town.
I shall walk to the outskirts of the wild plains, 
And drink from heaven mystic rains, 
Lying in the reeds, drunk upon the down.

My shoes are worn,...

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...my paris begins with those early days as as a conscious flaneur I recall the couple seated opposite me on the metro when i was still innocent of its labyrinthine complexity slim pretty white girl...

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my paris begins with 
those early days 
as a conscious flaneur 
i recall the couple 
seated opposite me 
on the metro 
when i was still innocent 
of its labyrinthine complexity 
slim pretty white girl 
clad...

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You've heard of an orchard/ 
I've stirred up an artchard with girthed art to be heard/
Words come in with fun as the function never turned defunct/
Metaphors and puns run an injunction to sever clues debunked/
In...

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Il pleure dans mon coeur (“It rains in my heart”)
by Paul Verlaine
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

It rains in my heart
As it rains on the town;
Heavy languor and dark
Drenches my heart.

Oh, the sweet-sounding rain
Cleansing pavements...

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Spleen
by Paul Verlaine
loose translation/interpretation by Michael R. Burch

The roses were so very red;
The ivy, impossibly black.

Dear, with a mere a turn of your head,
My despair’s flooded back!

The sky was too gentle, too blue;
The sea, far...

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Demon (M. Vrubel)

The hour.
The hour of violet.
Who’s there above the violet
twilight flying?
It’s gnawing its flesh
and hits its shadow in the rocks.
It’s you, isn’t it?
The last child of sorrow.
The lost breath of God.
The fear of the...

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ENTICEMENT
Allurement,in her look
come hither-Franz Stuck
JUDITH
with Judith 1
Klimt's fame had began
TEMPTATION
Temptation's face
with whispers so ofteensnare + enlace
NIMIANE
Merlin knew the future and the past
but she lulled him to sleep,so fast
DRYOPE
Alas,alas poor Hylas
trapped by love
of this beautiful lass
APRIL...

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