The Balcony by Charles Pierre Baudelaire
The Balcony (French: Le Salon) is a poem by Charles Pierre Baudelaire, first published in 1857 as part of his collection Les Fleurs du Mal (The Flowers of Evil). The poem explores themes of beauty, decay, and the transience of life. In it, Baudelaire reflects on the passing of time and the fleeting nature of human experience, likening the balcony to a stage upon which people perform their lives. The poem is known for its vivid imagery and use of symbolism, as well as its exploration of the tension between beauty and decay.
By Charles Pierre Baudelaire · First published 1859 · Genre: Poetry, Symbolism, Romanticism · 353 words
First lines
Mother of memories, mistress of mistresses, / O thou, my pleasure, thou, all my desire, / Thou shalt recall the beauty of caresses, / The charm of evenings by the gentle fire, / Mother of memories, mistress of mistresses!
The eves illumined by the burning coal, / The balcony where veiled rose-vapour clings -- / How soft your breast was then, how sweet your soul! / Ah, and we said imperishable things, / Those eves illumined by the burning coal.
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The Balcony is listed on Textopian as a poem by Charles Pierre Baudelaire, dated 1859 CE.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Charles Pierre Baudelaire
- Date: 1859 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Symbolism, Romanticism, Modernism
- Length: 353 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The Balcony is a poem from Charles Baudelaire's book 'The Flowers of Evil', placing it in the poetry genre.
- Symbolism — Baudelaire is known for his use of symbolism to illustrate the nature of beauty and the role of the artist.
- Romanticism — The Balcony showcases themes of love and desire, common in romantic literature.
- Modernism — Baudelaire's work is often considered a precursor to modernist literature, as it explores complex emotions and the human condition in an urban context.
Tags
poetry · symbolism · urban life · romanticism · existentialism · modernity · melancholy · beauty · transience · introspection · imagination · nature