Poems of Paul Verlaine Quotes

“What we need, we, is fixedness intense, Unequalled effort, strife that shall not cease,”
― Paul Verlaine, Poems of Paul Verlaine

“O'ER THE WOOD'S BROW   O'er the wood's brow,    Pale, the moon stares; In every bough    Wandering airs Faintly suspire. . . .   O heart's-desire!   Two willow-trees    Waver and weep, One in the breeze,    One in the deep Glass of the stream. . . .   Dream we our dream!   An infinite    Resignedness Rains where the white    Mists opalesce In the moon-shower. . . .   Stay, perfect hour!”
― Paul Verlaine, Poems of Paul Verlaine

“Of its persistent, artless strain: Naught so can soothe a soul's own pain, As making glad another soul!”
― Paul Verlaine, Poems of Paul Verlaine

“STREETS          Let's dance the jig!   Above all else I loved her eyes, More clear than stars of cloudless skies, And arch and mischievous and wise.          Let's dance the jig!   So skilfully would she proceed To make a lover's bare heart bleed, That it was beautiful indeed!          Let's dance the jig!   But keenlier have I relished The kisses of her mouth so red Since to my heart she has been dead.          Let's dance the jig!   The circumstances great and small,-- Words, moments . . . I recall, recall It is my treasure among all.          Let's dance the jig!”
― Paul Verlaine, Poems of Paul Verlaine

“COLLOQUE SENTIMENTAL   In the deserted park, silent and vast, Erewhile two shadowy glimmering figures passed.   Their lips were colorless, and dead their eyes; Their words were scarce more audible than sighs.   In the deserted park, silent and vast, Two spectres conjured up the buried past.   Our ancient ecstasy, do you recall? Why, pray, should I remember it at all?   Does still your heart at mention of me glow? Do still you see my soul in slumber? No!   Ah, blessed, blissful days when our lips met! You loved me so! Quite likely,--I forget.   How sweet was hope, the sky how blue and fair! The sky grew black, the hope became despair.   Thus walked they 'mid the frozen weeds, these dead, And Night alone o'erheard the things they said.”
― Paul Verlaine, Poems of Paul Verlaine

“MANDOLINE.   The courtly serenaders,    The beauteous listeners, Sit idling 'neath the branches    A balmy zephyr stirs.   It's Tircis and Aminta,    Clitandre,--ever there!-- Damis, of melting sonnets    To many a frosty fair.   Their trailing flowery dresses,    Their fine beflowered coats, Their elegance and lightness,    And shadows blue,--all floats   And mingles,--circling, wreathing,    In moonlight opaline, While through the zephyr's harping    Tinkles the mandoline.”
― Paul Verlaine, Poems of Paul Verlaine