Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867)
Some of us write actual letters to powerful people, hoping against hope to convince them to do the right thing. The formal terms of address are sources for irony: "Your Honor" for the dishonorable; "Your Majesty" for the non-majestic nebbish; "Your Holiness" for the unholy; "Your Eminence" for the fallen; "Your Grace" for the klutz.
I prefer Baudelaire's address to hair: "Ecstatic fleece"; "Take me, tousled current"; "vault of shadows." ("Head of Hair," translated by Richard Howard, Everyman Pocket Library.) Baudelaire's 'terms' are authentic. Outdoing himself, he addresses his lovers: "salutary leech"; "My Queen of Sins"; "Sublime disgrace"; "slattern deity;" "lazy beast"; "Dear Demon."
Nothing twittering here. His poems have what Elizabeth Bishop valued in writing: Accuracy, Spontaneity, Mystery. (Capital letters and Italics hers.) She was a fan of this wicked poet.
Ah, the sweet strains of the blunt utterance. Can't beat it. 'Wicked poet'. Nah.
ReplyDeleteIsn't M. Baudelaire blunt and elegant, Penal-Colony!
ReplyDeleteYes. 'Wicked' in a good way.
ReplyDeleteHe was, is and probably will be able to express many times what is and will be felt. Like him alot.
ReplyDeletePlease have a good Friday.
addressing one's lover as "salutory leech" could set the stage for a evening of surprises, indeed.
ReplyDeleteyours, in slatternly expectation,
susan
--"salutory leech" is marvelous, isn't it? Susan: Did you notice the buttons on his overcoat?
ReplyDeleteAccuracy, Spontaneity, Mystery - such clear guidelines. Wickedly inventive. I leave inspired.
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ReplyDeleteMarylinn--Yes, cuts thru unnecessary complication--Bishop's statement.
ReplyDeleteI like 'My Queen of Sins'. It carries the undertone of complicity in it. Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.