Illuminations

So my Arthur Rimbaud book finally arrived yesterday. I don't think I'll do a review for this one- instead I'll dip in and out of it and maybe write when I find something interesting.

My version is parallel text which is great because I can read the English, then read the French, learn some new words and understand it fully while still reading it the way Rimbaud intended it to be read. I've always thought that poetry should be read in the language it was written- it's not always just the meaning of the words but the words themselves that contribute to the meaning of the poem (I always remember these few words from the Thomas Hardy poem "Neutral Tones"- "wrings with wrong"- they sound like a funeral bell. I can't imagine that that would have the same effect when translated into another language).

I've read "After the Flood" ("Après le Déluge") and it's magical... although I think I'll have to read it a few more times before I understand it properly.

Anyone else read any of Rimbaud's poetry? As always, I'd love to hear your opinions.

I'll post again soon!
Caitlin