Paul VERLAINE - Signed autograph poem

Paul VERLAINE (1844 - 1896), French poet. One of the rare last poems of the poet published in the posthumous collection "Biblio-sonnets"
Autograph poem signed "Bibliomanie". Slnd (1895); ½ page in-8 °.
One of Verlaine's last poems from the posthumous collection “Biblio-sonnets” published in 1913 (Paris, Floury).
Pierre Dauze, editor-in-chief of the Biblio-iconographique review, had concluded with Verlaine to compose a series of 24 poems on the theme of bibliophilia. The poet's death on January 8, 1896, will prevent the project from being completed, only 13 poems will be published. Pierre Dauze, for his part, died the year of the publication of the collection before its release.
"Bibliomania", is the second sonnet of the collection, giving the image of a reader pretending to have read everything but suspected of not really reading, it takes the counterpoint of the first sonnet, "Bibliophilia", depicting a literate bibliomaniac . Verlaine mischievously shoves the language here, reaching the pinnacle of his art. This poem remains a beautiful testimony of the very last verses of Verlaine before death surprises him.

"Bibliomania

Reading is nothing: must have read; should ; had to!
For what you read in the books that honor
The cheerful or dark binding that decorates
Another proud or tender crest of your choice,

Could, alas! contaminate with a hairy finger
From raw amateur the noble vellum that, sonorous
Abstractly, glory fills, sword or mandora,
From a great hero or a very ... reread poet!

It's true that being in the prime of your life
You would be wrong (when love would leave you quiet
A moment) not to read, - such formerly

We ! exploits and beautiful verses, quits, homage
Supreme, - to be venerated, as soon as duly connected
Their majesty, their strength and… their folded backs!

Paul Verlaine "