French poet and charter member of The Decadent Movement, Arthur Rimbaud lived a short life, but a full one; writing all his poetry before the age of 21, abandoning his enormous talent completely to travel and explore the world over. What Arthur Rimbaud did not lose was his indulgences; which were many, namely absinthe and hashish; and men and women.
To imagine that Rimbaud wrote some of the most brilliant and influential poetry ever written, before the age of 21, is staggering. One example of the mature nature of his insight lies within The First Encounter, a poem about a tantalizing seduction, between a young man and a young woman.
Read the entire poem as translated by Walter Wykes at BlackCatPoems.Com
Delicate Feet On The Floor
Instantly evocative imagery sparks a curiosity and mystery, as the poet compares his desired companion to the thread bare trees outside their window; to include the window in the opening imagery injects the stanza with a feverish sense of voyeurism:
She was only half-dressed
equally bare trees tossed
After a rather brazen display of immodesty on the part of the girl; Rimbaud further tantalizes the reader, by making note of the innocent, child-like behavior that follows:
She tapped small, delicate feet on the floor
In one of the more graphic depictions of sensuality in the poem, Rimbaud delicately details in lyrical terms the anticipatory sign of arousal displayed by the girl's undressed torso.
Rimbaud's First Encounter?
Of course, the reader takes for granted the moral integrity of the poet, or lack there of, but Rimbaud plants a seed of doubt about the girl's:
Her body was the color of wax
And in return directs the reader toward a reconsideration of the title, The First Encounter; insinuating the title may refer to the young poet's awakening.
Sweet Anticipation, Laughing Lips
A sweet anticipation; a certain degree of eagerness builds behind her laughing lips; and to know Rimbaud, is to know, if nothing else, he holds no judgment; how could he:
I knelt and kissed her little ankles
She feigns embarrassment at the amorous young man's antics, laughs at his brazen attempts to advance upon her; and in a most brilliant and unexpected fashion, the poet chooses to include a true, authentic, and humorous moment to conclude; thereby seducing the reader into a shrewd sex farce:
You're not trying to take advantage of me ... are you?
If you are, darling, you know I'll have to--
Concluding in the most consummate manner; a passionate willingness brings them together, before the window, where the bare trees toss their leaves, against the glass.
Arthur Rimbaud Poetry
Le Bateau ivre (1871)
Les Illuminations (1886)
Poésiès complete d'Arthur Rimbaud (1895)
Poèmes (1891)
Une Saison en Enfer (1873)
Arthur Rimbaud Poetry (translated)
A Season in Hell & Illuminations (1991)
A Season in Hell, The Illuminations (1973)
Arthur Rimbaud: Complete Works (2000)
Illuminations (1979)
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