Flowers of Evil

<h3><SPAN name="Meditation" id="Meditation"></SPAN>Meditation</h3> <p class="margin-b"> Be wise, O my Woe, seek thy grievance to drown,<br/> Thou didst call for the night, and behold it is here,<br/> An atmosphere sombre, envelopes the town,<br/> To some bringing peace and to others a care.<br/> <br/> Whilst the manifold souls of the vile multitude,<br/> 'Neath the lash of enjoyment, that merciless sway,<br/> Go plucking remorse from the menial brood,<br/> From them far, O my grief, hold my hand, come this way.<br/> <br/> Behold how they beckon, those years, long expired,<br/> From Heaven, in faded apparel attired,<br/> How Regret, smiling, foams on the waters like yeast;<br/> <br/> Its arches of slumber the dying sun spreads,<br/> And like a long winding-sheet dragged to the East,<br/> Oh, hearken Beloved, how the Night softly treads!<br/></p> <hr style="width: 35%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />