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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


OH SAD, SAD WAS MY SOUL by PAUL VERLAINE

Poem Explanation Poet Analysis

Last Line: WE WERE EXILED FAR AND LONG AGO?
Subject(s): GRIEF; LOVE – COMPLAINTS;

Oh, sad, sad was my soul
because, because-for a woman's sake it was.


Never will I be solaced, nay,
AIthough my heart has come away,


Athough my heart and my soul are
free of that woman now--and far.


Never will I be solaced, nay,
AIthough my heart has come away.


And my heart, my heart that can suffer well,
says to my soul: Is it possible,


Is it possible--that there can be
his sad proud exile of her and me?


And my soul says to my heart: Do I
Know what wished us this trap, or why


we are always with her, even though
we were exiled far and long ago?






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