Les Fleurs du mal Les Fleurs du mal (English: The Flowers of
Evil) is a volume of French poetry by Charles Baudelaire. First
published in 1857 (see 1857 in poetry), it was important in the
symbolist and modernist movements. The subject matter of these
poems deals with themes relating to decadence and eroticism. The
initial publication of the book was arranged in six thematically
segregated sections: - Spleen et Idéal (Spleen and Ideal) -
Tableaux parisiens (Parisian Scenes) - Le Vin (Wine) - Fleurs du
mal (Flowers of Evil) - Révolte (Revolt) - La Mort (Death) Si le
viol, le poison, le poignard, l'incendie, N'ont pas encore brodé
de leurs plaisants dessins Le canevas banal de nos piteux
destins, C'est que notre âme, hélas! n'est pas assez hardie. -
If rape and poison, dagger and burning, - Have still not
embroidered their pleasant designs - On the banal canvas of our
pitiable destinies, - It's because our souls, alas, are not bold
enough! The preface concludes with the following malediction:
C'est l'Ennui! —l'