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