THE SPIRITUAL DAWN

From ImmortalPoetry
Jump to navigationJump to search

by Charles Baudelaire, translated to English by John Collings Squire

When upon revellers the stained dawn breaks
The fierce ideal comes with it; at that hour,
Stirred by some terrible avenging power,
An angel in the sated brute awakes.

Above the stricken, suffering man there glow
Far azure plains of unimagined bliss
Which draw his dreaming spirit like the abyss.
O pure, beloved Goddess, even so

O’er the smoked wrecks of stupid scenes of shame
Brighter and rosier thy sweet memory
Hovers before my wide eyes hauntingly. . . .

The Sun has dimmed and charred the candles’ flame,
And thus, my glorious all-conquering one,
Thy shade is peer to the immortal Sun.

 
Blossoms of Evil (1857)
by Charles Baudelaire - Translated by John Collings Squire


Add your comment
ImmortalPoetry welcomes all comments. If you do not want to be anonymous, register or log in. It is free.