Summer Poem: Green By Paul Verlaine

Paul Verlaine’s “Green” is part of our summer poetry series, dedicated to making the season of vacation lyrical again. The poem, first published in his 1874 collection Romances sans paroles (Ballads Without Words), is a tender account of the author returning home to his lover from an early-morning walk.

Besides being one of the most influential French poets of his time, and a leading—if not the leading—proponent of Symbolism, Paul Verlaine is also well-known for his fiery relationship with Arthur Rimbaud. The collection of poetry in which “Green” was published was written during their tumultuous escape to England and Belgium in 1872-1873 (which ended in July 1873 in Brussels, with Verlaine shooting at Rimbaud and getting imprisoned for it).

This particular poem is a testament to the tenderness of their relationship, as well as Verlaine’s immense talent. He juxtaposes a very nature-filled morning with the intense, and seemingly calm, passion felt for his still-sleeping lover. Although the translation can unfortunately only fail at rendering the poet’s aptitude for language, it should give you an idea of it:
Green by Paul Verlaine (translator unknown)
See, blossoms, branches, fruit, leaves I have brought,
And then my heart that for you only sighs;
With those white hands of yours, oh, tear it not,
But let the poor gift prosper in your eyes.
The dew upon my hair is still undried,–
The morning wind strikes chilly where it fell.
Suffer my weariness here at your side
To dream the hour that shall it quite dispel.
Allow my head, that rings and echoes still
With your last kiss, to lie upon your breast,
Till it recover from the stormy thrill,–
And let me sleep a little, since you rest.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.