'L'Invitation au Voyage' by Charles Baudelaire


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Mon enfant, ma soeur,

Songe à la douceur,

D'aller là-bas, vivre ensemble!

Aimer à loisir,

Aimer et mourir,

Au pays qui te ressemble!

Les soleils mouillés,

De ces ciels brouillés,

Pour mon esprit ont les charmes,

Si mystérieux,

De tes traîtres yeux,

Brillant à travers leurs larmes.


Là, tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté,

Luxe, calme et volupté.


Des meubles luisants,

Polis par les ans,

Décoreraient notre chambre;

Les plus rares fleurs

Mêlant leurs odeurs

Aux vagues senteurs de l'ambre,

Les riches plafonds,

Les miroirs profonds,

La splendeur orientale,

Tout y parlerait

A l'âme en secret

Sa douce langue natale.


Là, tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté,

Luxe,calme et volupté.


Vois sur ces canaux

Dormir ces vaisseaux

Dont l'humeur est vagabonde;

C'est pour assouvir

Ton moindre désir

Qu'ils viennent du bout du monde.

--Les soleils couchants

Revêtent les champs

Les canaux, la ville entière

D'hyacinthe et d'or;

Le monde s'endort

Dans une chaude lumière


Là, tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté,

Luxe, calme et volupté.

Editor 1 Interpretation

L'Invitation au Voyage: A Poem That Invites You To A World Of Dreams

If you were ever given an invitation to a world of dreams, would you accept it? Charles Baudelaire's "L'Invitation au Voyage" is a poem that speaks to the desire in all of us to escape our mundane lives and enter a world of beauty and wonder. Baudelaire, a French poet of the 19th century, is known for his exploration of the themes of beauty, decadence, and the human condition. In this essay, I will analyze and interpret "L'Invitation au Voyage" to explore the meaning behind this captivating and enchanting poem.

The Poem and Its Structure

"L'Invitation au Voyage" was first published in 1857 as part of Baudelaire's collection of poems, "Les Fleurs du Mal" ("The Flowers of Evil"). The poem is divided into six stanzas of varying lengths, each containing four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the lines are written in iambic tetrameter. This structure creates a musical rhythm that adds to the enchanting quality of the poem.

The Invitation to a World of Dreams

The poem begins with an invitation to the reader to leave their mundane life and enter a world of dreams:

"Mon enfant, ma soeur,
Songe à la douceur
D'aller là-bas vivre ensemble,
Aimer à loisir,
Aimer et mourir
Au pays qui te ressemble!"

The speaker addresses the reader as "mon enfant, ma soeur" ("my child, my sister") in a way that suggests a close relationship between the two. This relationship creates a sense of intimacy, making the reader feel as if they are being personally invited to this world of dreams. The speaker then describes the pleasures that await in this world of dreams - the ability to love freely and without consequence, and to find one's true self in a place that resembles the reader's own.

The Beauty of the World of Dreams

Throughout the poem, the speaker describes the world of dreams as a place of beauty and enchantment. In the second stanza, the speaker describes the "azure sky" and the "golden light" that bathes everything in a warm glow. The world of dreams is a place where everything is perfect and beautiful, and where the worries and troubles of the real world are left behind:

"Là, tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté,
Luxe, calme et volupté."

The repetition of the word "et" ("and") in this line creates a sense of abundance and excess - a world where there is always more to discover and enjoy. The use of the word "volupté" ("pleasure") also suggests a sensual and hedonistic quality to this world of dreams.

The Desire to Escape

One of the main themes of "L'Invitation au Voyage" is the desire to escape from the real world and enter a world of fantasy and dreams. The speaker describes the real world as a place of "ennui" ("boredom") and "misère" ("misery"), and contrasts it with the beauty and pleasure of the world of dreams. The desire to escape is not only a physical one, but also a psychological one - a desire to leave behind the constraints of reality and enter a world where anything is possible.

The Search for Identity

Another theme of the poem is the search for identity. The speaker invites the reader to a world that "te ressemble" ("resembles you"), suggesting that the world of dreams is a place where the reader can find their true self. The world of dreams is a place where the reader can love freely and without consequence, and where they can be themselves without fear of judgment or criticism.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "L'Invitation au Voyage" is a poem that invites the reader to a world of dreams - a world of beauty, pleasure, and enchantment. The poem explores themes of escape, identity, and the human desire for something more than the mundane reality of everyday life. Baudelaire's use of musical rhythm and enchanting language creates a magical and captivating quality to the poem, drawing the reader into the world of dreams that he describes. This poem is not just an invitation to a world of dreams, but an invitation to explore the depths of the human psyche and the desires that drive us all.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

L'Invitation au Voyage: A Journey Through Baudelaire's Poetic Imagination

Charles Baudelaire's L'Invitation au Voyage is a classic poem that invites the reader on a journey through the poet's imaginative world. Written in 1857, the poem is a masterpiece of French literature that captures the essence of Baudelaire's poetic vision. In this article, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of L'Invitation au Voyage, and analyze its significance in the context of Baudelaire's oeuvre.

The poem begins with an invitation to the beloved to travel to a far-off land, where they can escape the mundane realities of everyday life. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, as Baudelaire's language is rich and evocative, creating a sense of longing and desire:

"Mon enfant, ma soeur,
Songe à la douceur
D'aller là-bas vivre ensemble,
Aimer à loisir,
Aimer et mourir
Au pays qui te ressemble!"

The use of the terms "mon enfant" and "ma soeur" creates a sense of intimacy and tenderness, as if the speaker is addressing a loved one. The repetition of the verb "aimer" (to love) emphasizes the importance of love in the poem, and the desire to escape to a place where love can be experienced without limits.

The second stanza continues the invitation, describing the beauty of the imagined land:

"Là, tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté,
Luxe, calme et volupté."

The use of the phrase "tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté" (everything is order and beauty) creates a sense of harmony and perfection, as if the land is a utopia where everything is in its right place. The use of the words "luxe" (luxury), "calme" (calm), and "volupté" (voluptuousness) further emphasizes the idea of a paradise where pleasure and relaxation are the norm.

The third stanza introduces the idea of music, as the speaker invites the beloved to listen to the "chant des matelots" (song of the sailors) and the "bruit des vagues" (sound of the waves). The use of auditory imagery creates a sense of immersion in the environment, as if the reader is being transported to the land described in the poem.

The fourth stanza introduces the idea of art, as the speaker invites the beloved to admire the "tableaux tout dorés" (gilded paintings) and the "marbres vêtus" (clothed marbles). The use of visual imagery creates a sense of richness and opulence, as if the land is a place of great artistic beauty.

The fifth stanza returns to the theme of love, as the speaker invites the beloved to "goûter la douceur de confondre" (taste the sweetness of merging) and to "s'enivrer" (get drunk) with love. The use of sensory imagery creates a sense of physicality and sensuality, as if the love described in the poem is a tangible experience.

The sixth and final stanza concludes the poem with a repetition of the opening lines, as the speaker once again invites the beloved to travel to the imagined land:

"Là, tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté,
Luxe, calme et volupté."

The repetition creates a sense of circularity and completeness, as if the poem is a self-contained world that the reader can enter and exit at will.

Overall, L'Invitation au Voyage is a poem that invites the reader on a journey through Baudelaire's poetic imagination. The themes of love, beauty, and escape are central to the poem, and the use of sensory imagery creates a vivid and immersive experience for the reader. The language is rich and evocative, and the repetition of key phrases creates a sense of unity and coherence. In the context of Baudelaire's oeuvre, L'Invitation au Voyage is a masterpiece that captures the essence of his poetic vision, and continues to inspire readers and writers alike.

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