The Phantom Of The Rose Poem by Theophile Gautier

The Phantom Of The Rose

Rating: 4.8


Sweet lady, let your lids unclose.--
Those lids by maiden dreams caressed;
I am the phantom of the rose
You wore last night upon your breast.
Like pearls upon my petals lay
The weeping fountain's silver tears,
Ere in the glittering array
You bore me proudly 'mid your peers.

O lady, 'twas for you I died--
Yet have I come and will I stay;
My rosy phantom by your side
Will linger till the break of day.
Yet fear not, lady; naught claim I--
Nor mass, nor hymn, or funeral prayer;
My soul is but a perfumed sigh,
Which pure from Paradise I bear.

My death is as my life was--sweet;
Who would not die as I have done?
A fate like mine who would not meet,
Your bosom fair to lie upon?
A poet on my sentient tomb
Engraved this legend with a kiss:
'Here lies a rose of fairest bloom;
E'en kings are jealous of its bliss.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Susan Williams 31 August 2016

This is so beautifully gorgeously sensually romantic. They didn't mind a touch of sentimentality, a dash of overwhelming, and a cup of wistful sighs! ! ! ! Love it. It is just so.... romantic! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! My soul is but a perfumed sigh, - - - - - - - - - - - - oh, I think I fainted from such incredible loveliness

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Daniel Brick 31 August 2016

This poem embodies what John Ruskin called THE PATHETIC FALLACY, that is giving human emotins to non-human things. He meant it as a negative criticism. But don't WE POETS believe in sharing our human powers and virtues with the rest of creation? We definitely should increase the range of feelings and the degrees of consciousness: We are ALL BEINGS OF THE WORLD! ! Hector Berlioz set six of Gautier's to the most lush orchestral music with soprano. He called the set Summer Nights (LES NUITS D'ETE OPUS 7) . This poem is the second and the setting is heart-breaking. If you liked reading this poem, I urge you to listen to Berlioz's setting. You will be uplifted so far above that old stick in the mud John Ruskin who shut doors where Gautier/Berlioz opened them wide so that you can f-l-y across the summer night! !

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Ratnakar Mandlik 31 August 2016

My death is as my life was- sweet; Here lies a rose of fairest bloom; Even kings are jealous of it's bliss. Simple yet very imaginative lines. Thanks for sharing it here.

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Subhas Chandra Chakra 31 August 2016

A fate like mine who would not meet, Your bosom fair to lie upon? A poet on my sentient tomb Engraved this legend with a kiss: 'Here lies a rose of fairest bloom; E'en kings are jealous of its bliss. Beautiful verse. Thanks for sharing.10 for it.

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Tom Billsborough 31 August 2016

A fine translation of one of my favourite 19th Century French poets.

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Dezal wrote dis 11 June 2018

This reminds me when my dad left me

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Shareq Rahman 13 November 2016

The original in French is like this: Le Spectre De La Rose. Soulève ta paupière close Qu'effleure un songe virginal; Je suis le spectre d'une rose Que tu portais hier au bal. Tu me pris encore emperlée Des pleurs d'argent de l'arrosoir, Et parmi la fête étoilée Tu me promenas tout le soir. O toi qui de ma mort fus cause, Sans que tu puisses le chasser, Toute la nuit mon spectre rose A ton chevet viendra danser. Mais ne crains rien, je ne réclame Ni messe ni De profundis; Ce léger parfum est mon âme, Et j'arrive du paradis. Mon destin fut digne d'envie: Pour avoir un trépas si beau, Plus d'un aurait donné sa vie, Car j'ai ta gorge pour tombeau, sur l'albâtre où je repose Un poëte avec un baiser Écrivit: Ci-gît une rose Que tous les rois vont jalouser.

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Shareq Rahman 13 November 2016

Compare with this Poem by Rabindranath. Will give my full translation soon. Song of the jasmine flower. Love me my dear and write my name with love and care in the temple of your heart Learn the beat of the song playing in my garden on your ankle bells Hold with love and care a singing bird of my garden in the rooms of your palace Remember, my dear to make a string of flowers and wear near your golden bracelet Forgetfully take a bud from my shoots and put it in your shining pendant hanging near your bosom.

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Chukwuebuka Adebayo 02 September 2016

Am gotta tell my friends about a great poet I met, who writes romantic poems as none.

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Amar Agarwala 31 August 2016

I have never read Gautier before, but this poem leaves me short on words. It is sweet melody in ink... verses from the garden of Eden that reaches my soul and leaves it elevated, happy and in bliss. Much like the poet says: 'Here lies a rose of fairest bloom; E'en kings are jealous of its bliss. The poet deserves a full 100 instead of 10 points for this marvelous piece of writing!

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