Destruction
Destruction - context Summary
Published in 1860
Published in Les Fleurs du Mal (1860), "Destruction" frames a persistent demonic presence that both tempts and animates the speaker. The demon exploits the poet's love of Art, often taking a seductive female guise, and drags him away from God into wastelands of boredom and ruin. The poem registers Baudelaire's recurring themes of sinful desire, artistic compulsion, and existential decay, reflecting his personal struggle with destructive impulses.
Read Complete AnalysesThe Demon is always moving about at my side; He floats about me like an impalpable air; I swallow him, I feel him burn my lungs And fill them with an eternal, sinful desire. Sometimes, knowing my deep love for Art, he assumes The form of a most seductive woman, And, with pretexts specious and hypocritical, Accustoms my lips to infamous philtres. He leads me thus, far from the sight of God, Panting and broken with fatigue, into the midst Of the plains of Ennui, endless and deserted, And thrusts before my eyes full of bewilderment, Dirty filthy garments and open, gaping wounds, And all the bloody instruments of Destruction! Translated by - William Aggeler Destruction Always the Demon fidgets here beside me And swims around, impalpable as air: I drink him, feel him burn the lungs inside me With endless evil longings and despair. Sometimes, knowing my love of Art, he uses Seductive forms of women: and has thus, With specious, hypocritical excuses, Accustomed me to philtres infamous. Leading me wayworn into wastes untrod Of boundless Boredom, out of sight of God, Using all baits to compass my abduction, Into my eyes, confused and full of woe, Soiled clothes and bleeding gashes he will throw And all the grim regalia of Destruction. Translated by - Roy Campbell
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