Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.
Poems of Sentiment: V. The ArtsThe Spell
Paul Verlaine (18441896)From the French by Gertrude Hall
“Son joyeux, importun, d’un clavecin sonore.”
—PÉTRUS BOREL.
T
Shines vaguely in the twilight pink and gray,
Whilst with a sound like wings, note after note
Takes flight to form a pensive little lay
That strays, discreet and charming, faint, remote,
About the room where perfumes of Her stray.
To that dim ditty’s dreamy rise and fall?
What do you want with me, pale melody?
What is it that you want, ghost musical,
That fades toward the window waveringly,
A little open on the garden small?