Poetry Paper

Submitted By msm3281997
Words: 327
Pages: 2

Matt Monahan
11-5-14
Poetry/Creative Writing

“The Seekers of Lice” written by Arthur Rimbaud had elements of French symbolism hidden in it. This poem was written during Rimbaud’s “genius” poetic time which occurred when he was 16-20 years old. The French symbolists era included synesthesia and crepuscular. Synesthesia is a sensation produced in one modality when a stimulus is applied to another modality, as when the hearing of a certain sound induces the visualization of a certain color. Crepuscular is of, pertaining to, or resembling twilight; dim; indistinct.
It shows crepuscular in the second line when it says “Longs for hazy dreams…” which symbolizes a dream or dark state. This is said in a calm and dazed state that sets the tone for the poem. Moreover in the fifth stanza it mentions “Near in a trance, a harmonica-sigh—And in their slow caress he feels” it says that this person is also in a dazed and dreamy state. In line two it says “Longs for hazy dreams to swarm in white” which shows synesthesia by associating colors with thoughts. In stanza two it says “Mass of flowers basking in blue” which describes a great amount of flowers in some sort of blue liquid. In the first line of stanza four it says “dark eyelashes” which could symbolize synesthesia and crepuscular. This dark themed poem was written about a boy and his sisters. The boys’ head is full of lice and his sisters run their hands through his hair. About half way through the poem it starts