Poems of Jules Laforgue (English and French Edition) Paperback – June 1, 2004

I think this is the first time I have had to completely re-write an Amazon review. I originally gave this book just one star, after trying to read, understand, and enjoy it. I was not successful. In retrospect, my original review was unfair because I kept comparing Laforgue's poetry with T.S. Eliot's. Eliot has been my favorite poet for years, and in studying his life I learned that Laforgue was a MAJOR, if not the CHIEF, influence upon his earlier poetry (notably "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock", but also most of the poems posthumously published as "INVENTIONS OF THE MARCH HARE"). I found the two poets disappointingly different. I was thus very disappointed and almost not impressed at all with Laforgue. But I have come to change my mind! (Luckily, we human beings have that right!)These English translations in this bilingual French-English edition are indeed stunning. The playful, witty, ironic spirit of Laforgue seems to come through effortlessly through the poems, which seem astoundingly faithful to the originals--although I know little about French or about translating in general. Peter Dale does a wonderful job translating.It is a compliment to T.S. Eliot that he did not plagiarize or merely imitate Laforgue. (At most, some of the irony of the two poets is similar, and maybe a line or two here and there, but each poet is different.) But Laforgue definitely stands out as one of the most gifted, energetic, witty, insightful, eloquent, and entertaining poets I have ever read. There is a freshness, purity, and strength to this poetry which could, perhaps, only have come from a poet who lived as short a life as he did (dying at age 28 of tuberculosis, with his young English wife succumbing to the same illness the following year).I have only recently begun to understand and enjoy this man's poetry. Some of his lines are as beautiful as any of the best from other poets. Some examples:"Let's gather in the irretrievable whole!Our fate outdo, outbrave!The stars outnumber all the sands that shoalIn seas where others watched her body bathe; ..."(from "Moon Solo")"Faddists for happiness, us two,So, what shall we do? With my soul, me;She with her fallible youth?O sinner woman growing long in the tooth,Oh, the evenings I'll bring myself notorietyIn honour of you!"(from "Moon Solo" again)"You ask me why it's You I love and not some other?I don't know, but it's You indeed and not another.I feel as sure of this as of the void that's thereWithin my heart -- and of your mortal mocking air."(from "Imagine A Bit")"I shall have passed my life, daylight and dark,On platforms failing to embarkOn some pretty dreadful stories --And all that for the loveOf my heart, mad for the glories of love.Oh, how picturesque the missed trains look! . . .(from "No. X" of his "LAST POEMS")

Excellent and affordable dual language collection of verse by symbolist (and intellectual) poet, Jules Laforgue. Also see JL's Berlin Diaries.