The Lovers’ Chronicle 7 November – silent night – birth of Auguste Villiers de l’Isle-Adam

The Lovers’ Chronicle 7 November – silent night – birth of Auguste Villiers de l’Isle-Adam – art by Paul Peel

07 November 2023 By Rhett 0 In Random

Dear Zazie, Here is today’s Lovers’ Chronicle from Mac Tag dedicated to his muse. Tell us about your night dreams. Rhett

The Lovers’ Chronicle

Dear Muse,

a story,

a mystery

approaches,

openin’ myself

as never before,

as much upon this

to have soon, advance

upon our embrace

this night envelopes

we have all we need

this dream enshrouds

the totem keeps spinnin’

this we fiercely cling to

this our sweet refrain

mystery approaches,

opens as much upon us

the lengthenin’ shadows

advance upon our embrace

this night envelopes

we have all we need

this dream enshrouds

the totem keeps spinnin’

this we cling to

our refrain

the night, the dream

the stars in the sky,

fiercely even

if by that you mean conviction,
i have some, but i admit it depends
on which way the wind is blowin’
……

everything in this vision
the feelin’s, accepted
and conceived in the only
sensuality, have become
more vitally important
than anything else

silent night
comin’ down
your voice
still
in my head

i know
what i want

thanks Karen…

i may not be
the smartest guy
but i figured this out
my days without you
ain’t worth a damn…

i listen to the sound
of your name, whisked
by the wind across
a South Dakota canyon
on a night, cold
with the only light
comin’ from a full moon
that shines with a halo
in the dark cloud-curtained sky

i turn my face to the snow
beginnin’ to fall
silently, and reflect
on my own, alone,
lookin’ at the moon,
with my thoughts of you
and i imagine…
and i smile

Today is the birthday of Jean-Marie-Mathias-Philippe-Auguste, comte de Villiers de l’Isle-Adam (Saint-Brieuc, Brittany 7 November 1838 – 19 August 1889 Paris); symbolist writer.

He came from a distinguished, though not wealthy, aristocratic family. His father became obsessed with the idea he could restore the family fortune by findin’ the lost treasure of the Knights of Malta (Philippe Villiers de L’Isle-Adam, 16th century Grand Master of the Knights Hospitaller, was his ancestor), which had reputedly been buried near Quintin durin’ the French Revolution. Consequently, he spent large sums of money buyin’ land, excavatin’ it and then sellin’ it at a loss when he failed to find anything of value. The most important occurrence in his early years was probably the death of a young girl with whom Villiers was in love, an event which would deeply influence his literary imagination.

Villiers had made several trips to Paris in the late 1850s, where he became enthralled by artistic and theatrical life. He acquired a reputation in literary circles for his inspired, alcohol-fuelled monologues. Villiers began livin’ a Bohemian life, frequentin’ the Brasserie des Martyrs, where he met his idol Baudelaire, who encouraged him to read the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Poe and Baudelaire would become the biggest influences on Villiers’ mature style. Around this time, Villiers began livin’ with Louise Dyonnet, a woman whose reputation scandalised his family so much they made Villiers undergo a retreat at Solesmes Abbey. Villiers would remain a devout, if highly unorthodox, Catholic for the rest of his life.

Villiers finally broke with Dyonnet in 1864. His attempts at securin’ a suitable bride for himself would all end in failure. In 1867, he asked Théophile Gautier for the hand of his daughter Estelle, but Gautier—who had turned his back on the Bohemian world of his youth and would not let his child marry a writer with few prospects, turned him down. Villiers’ own family also disapproved of the match. His plans for marriage to an English heiress, Anna Eyre Powell, were equally unsuccessful. Villiers finally took to livin’ with Marie Dantine, the illiterate widow of a Belgian coachman. He wrote a poem, “Nocturne”, that served as inspiration for this poem, dedicated to Villiers and to you.

Night Dream

The great mystery
Approaches, opens Herself
As much upon us
As the stars in the sky

The lengthenin’ shadows
Gradually advance
Upon our embrace
Under the stars in the sky

This night envelopes
We have all we need
Just us and the stars
My love and your beauty

This dream enshrouds
The token keeps spinnin’
This we fiercely cling to
This our sweet refrain:

Just the night and the dream

My love and your beauty

The Song of the Day is “Nocturne Op. 43-2” words by Villiers, music by Gabriel Fauré, Baritone: Gérard Souzay, Piano: Dalton Baldwin

And today is the birthday of Paul Peel (London, Ontario 7 November 1860 – 3 October 1892 Paris ); academic painter. Having won a medal at the 1890 Paris Salon, he became one of the first Canadian artists to receive international recognition in his lifetime.

In 1882 he married Isaure Verdier. He contracted a lung infection and died in his sleep, in Paris, France, at the age of 31.

Gallery