Art poétique

poem by Verlaine

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June 18, 2026

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"Art poétique" is a poem by the French Symbolist poet Paul Verlaine, likely written during his imprisonment. It is considered a foundational text for the Symbolist movement, which sought to express individual emotional experiences through suggestive language and symbolism, moving away from the precise descriptions of Parnassian poetry.12

The poem emphasizes the musicality of language and the evocative power of words, suggesting that poetry should prioritize sound and suggestion over explicit meaning. Verlaine advocated for a more lyrical and less didactic approach to poetry, influencing later modernist writers.3425

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Paul Verlaine
Life.
In 1882 his famous “Art poétique” (probably composed in prison eight years earlier) was enthusiastically adopted by the young Symbolists. He later disavowed the Symbolists, however, chiefly because they went further than he in abandoning traditional forms: rhyme, for example, seemed to him an unavoidable necessity in French verse.
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In 1882 his famous “Art poétique” (probably composed in prison eight years earlier) was enthusiastically adopted by the young Symbolists. He later disavowed the Symbolists, however, chiefly because they went further than he in abandoning traditional forms: rhyme, for example, seemed to him an unavoidable necessity in French verse.
Read More