The Two Good Sisters

By Charles Baudelaire

Sonnet
    Debauch and Death are a fine, healthy pair     Of girls, whose love is prodigal and free.     Their virgin wombs, beneath the rags they wear,     Are barren, though they labour constantly.     To the arch poet, foe of families,     Hell's favourite, a cut-rate whore at court,     Brothels and tombs show in dark galleries     A bed never frequented by remorse.     And coffin, alcove, rich in blasphemy,     As two good sisters would, offer as treats     Terrible pleasures, horrifying sweets.     Debauch, when will your clutches bury me? a rival     Death, will you be coming now     To graft black cypress to her myrtle bough?

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a rich exploration of the themes of mortality, sin, and hedonism, juxtaposing the debauchery of life with the inevitability of death. The anthropomorphization of Death and Debauchery as "a fine, healthy pair of girls" gives these abstract concepts a tangible, almost human, quality, which invites a deeper reflection on their roles in our lives. The poet's choice of feminine personification further underscores the seductive allure of these themes, suggesting their enticing yet destructive nature.

The tone of the poem is one of dark fascination, with the speaker seeming both entranced by and apprehensive of his subjects. The structure follows a consistent rhythm and rhyme scheme, providing a firm backbone for the heavy subject matter. The poem's imagery is vivid and unsettling, with the "dark galleries" of brothels and tombs and the "horrifying sweets" offered by the sisters of debauchery and death. This grim imagery, coupled with the direct address to Debauch and Death in the final lines, creates a feeling of imminent danger and urgency. The poet's use of the unusual botanical metaphor of grafting "black cypress to her myrtle bough" in the final line vividly conveys the intertwining of life's pleasures and the inevitability of death, leaving the reader with a lasting impression of the poem's central themes.

Understanding the Sonnet

The sonnet is one of the most enduring and celebrated forms of poetry, known for its strict structure and profound themes. With a history spanning centuries, sonnets have been used to explore love, beauty, politics, and mortality, all within the confines of just 14 lines.

Sonnets are characterized by their precise form and rhyme scheme, which vary depending on the type of sonnet. Here’s a closer look:

  • Shakespearean (English) Sonnet: Composed of three quatrains followed by a final couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG. This form often builds a complex argument or narrative, culminating in a powerful closing statement.
  • Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet: Divided into an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines), with a typical rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA for the octave, followed by various patterns in the sestet such as CDECDE or CDCDCD. The octave usually presents a problem, with the sestet providing a resolution.
  • Meter: Sonnets are traditionally written in iambic pentameter, which gives the poem a rhythmic and melodic quality that enhances its emotional impact.

The sonnet’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to condense complex emotions and ideas into a small but potent package, making it a favorite form for poets seeking to explore profound themes with precision and elegance.