Le cher parfum, par Jean Aicard

Daniel F. Gerhartz - The daughter of the nature - a woman
Daniel F. Gerhartz – The daughter of the nature – a woman – from Wikiart

Provenant du recueil de vers Le Livre d’Heures de l’Amour (1887), voici un beau poème brûlant de sensualité. Goûter la bien-aimée comme un fruit, respirer son corps aux odeurs envoûtantes d’herbes et de fleurs, le désir du poète se pare de parfums, et quand la belle n’est pas là, ceux-ci viennent hanter ses souvenirs. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…

Back Door Man

Howlin' Wolf
Howlin’ Wolf

Chester Arthur Burnett (1910–1976), known as Howlin’ Wolf, is one of the greatest American blues singers. In 1960 Willie Dixon (1915–1992), the bass player in his band, wrote for him the song “Back Door Man,” which was recorded in Chicago in June, then released in 1961 as the B-side to “Wang Dang Doodle.” CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…

A London phantom, by R. Thurston Hopkins

London fog
London fog

As it describes Ernest Dowson’s look and behaviour, this strange text has been included in the edition by Flower & Maas of Dowson’s letters. The ghost-like appearance of a repulsive man who seems a living dead carrying mould from his own grave, but who also notices every movement of Dowson and Thurston, seems quite surrealistic. But it is also a dire testimony to the poverty and misery that existed in London at the end of the 19th century.

This text relating events at the end of the 1890’s is undated, but it mentions the 1932 film Cynara directed by King Vidor, it was thus written more than 30 years after the incident. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…

Une allée au Luxembourg, par Gérard de Nerval

Yuri Krotov – Fille au parapluie rouge (2003) – provient de artyurikrotov.com

L’écrivain et poète Gérard de Nerval, de son vrai nom Gérard Labrunie, est une figure majeure du romantisme français. Né le 22 mai 1808 à Paris, il perdit à deux ans et demi sa mère, qu’il n’avait pratiquement jamais vue, et cet évènement semble avoir durablement marqué son psychisme. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…

The Picture of little T. C. in a Prospect of Flowers, by Andrew Marvell

Trent Gudmundsen - Spring Morning
Trent Gudmundsen – Spring Morning

The English poet Andrew Marvell (1621–1678) lived through several political regimes, and could adapt to each one. He started his career under the Stuart Monarchy, then visited Europe during the Civil War; afterwards he returned to England and held official positions during the republican Commonwealth, finally he served as Member of Parliament during the monarchic Restoration. He could do this by writing complex and sometimes ambiguous poetry, which could be interpreted in several ways. CONTINUE READING / CONTINUER LA LECTURE…