
SILHOUETTES - BYARTHUR SYMONS - SECOND EDITION REVISED AND ENLARGED - LONDON: LEONARD SMITHERS EFFINGHAM HOUSE: ARUNDEL STREET STRAND: MDCCCXCVI
PREFACE: - BEING A WORD ON BEHALF OF PATCHOULI.
AT DIEPPE.
AFTER SUNSET.
ON THE BEACH.
RAIN ON THE DOWN.
BEFORE THE SQUALL.
UNDER THE CLIFFS.
REQUIES.
MASKS AND FACES.
Silhouettes gathers short poems that drift through Parisian evenings, moonlit beaches, and English gardens. Each piece is a brief vignette, from the wistful sigh of “Rain on the Down” to the playful rustle of “Javanese Dancers,” that captures a single mood or a fleeting image. The language is lush yet economical, stitching fragrant references—patchouli, lily of the valley, perfume—into a tapestry of Victorian sensibility. Listeners will feel as if they’re stepping from one painted scene to the next, guided by a voice that balances charm with a quiet edge.
The opening preface sets the tone, offering a thoughtful defense of art’s artificiality, likening poetry to the scent of patchouli that some find “unwholesome.” The poet argues that beauty can be both decorative and daring, inviting readers to enjoy the “primrose path” without fearing moral fire. Throughout the collection, themes of love, travel, performance, and memory echo in concise lyric forms, making each poem a perfect pause for a reflective listening moment. Whether you’re strolling through a city night or lingering on a winter sunrise, the verses promise gentle companionship.
Language
en
Duration
~49 minutes (47K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Ruth Hart
Release date
2009-07-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1865–1945
A key voice in the English decadent movement, this poet and critic helped introduce French Symbolism to English readers. His writing moves between elegant verse, sharp criticism, and vivid impressions of city life and art.
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by Arthur Symons

by Arthur Symons

by Arthur Symons

by Arthur Symons

by Arthur Symons

by Arthur Symons

by Arthur Symons

by Arthur Symons