Almanac Poetry: After Baudelaire
Illustration of the Poe story, Berenice, by
Harry Clarke, from his 1919 illustrations for Poe’s Tales of Mystery and Imagination.
After Baudelaire
Berenice, I stole
into your darkened bedchamber.
In flaring candlelight we writhed.
I can’t recall who did what to whom
in the opium haze
but I remember, in the coal-black sky,
a scimitar moon was hung;
in the morn, a sickly sun;
and the vase on the bedside table was full
of virulent fleurs du mal.
(Acknowledgements: initially appeared in my first poetry book, Vigorous Vernacular, Picaro Press, 2008, reprinted by Ginninderra Press, 2018.)
Read more from Kevin Densley HERE
Kevin Densley’s latest poetry collection, Sacredly Profane, is available HERE
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About
Kevin Densley is a graduate of both Deakin University and The University of Melbourne. He has taught writing and literature in numerous Victorian universities and TAFES. He is a poet and writer-in-general. His sixth book-length poetry collection, Isle Full of Noises, was published in early 2026 by Ginninderra Press. He is also the co-author of ten play collections for young people, as well as a multi Green Room Award nominated play, Last Chance Gas, published by Currency Press. Other writing includes screenplays for educational films.
Great!
You take the reader on the descent through hard edged imagery:
opium haze
scimitar moon
sickly sun
virulent fleurs du mal.
Cheers
Thanks for your comment, Rick.
Poetically speaking, I let fly a bit in this one – Baudelaire and Poe were/are powerful inspirations.