Watered Down Wine
“My life would always be too ungovernable to be devoted to strength and beauty.”
~ Arthur Rimbaud
That’s why he chose Verlaine. This Rimbaud deemed
Himself unworthy, incapable of
Superior phenomena. He steamed
With second-rate indecencies, so love
For men was quite beyond him. Just one length
Of care prevailed, but this affection for
His sister was the only glow with strength
Enough to shine unconquered. Any more
He couldn’t muster for the males he loved,
If “love” is quite the term to mean his lame
Commitment towards them. It was chain-mail gloved
At best for any man he couldn’t tame.
So ugliness and frailty seemed to pique
Him, needing ugly Paul since he was weak.