The Friend Who was Wise to Escape Early into Prussian Strength
“ephebic body’s exquisite proportions” ~ Verlaine commenting on his long dead Lucien Viotti
….. 
Verlaine was like a bomb who injured those
Around him, starting with the one who loved
Him most, his mother. In its selfish throes
His self regard exploded and it shoved
Its wounding shrapnel deeply into hearts
And flesh. Such wounding of his wife and son
Then spread to lovers, claiming private parts
Of boys and whores. Verlaine deployed his gun
Of blind self pity as a coward must.
He ran from war and wrote veiled verse. The first
Young man he fell in love with did the just,
Heroic thing and triumphed in the worst
Way possible for Paul. Lucien died
A patriot and Paul got drunk and cried.