Keta's Keep: A Volatile Relationship Between Two Famous GAY Poets!

As some of you probably know, I occasionally write Gay Romance. And I enjoy writing in a different genre now and then. In fact, the passionate/sexual relationships between men have always intrigued me. My penchant for wanting a glimpse into their love affairs has me surfing the Internet for hours. By the time I'm done, I have a gazillion windows open on the computer. (I know...I should be writing).

The other day I happened upon an article about two famous poets--Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine. Their volatile story, as written in detail on Emily's Poetry Blog more than piqued my interest.

Paul Verlaine and Arthur Rimbaud were two French poets who made a huge contribution to world literature. Their relationship is called passionate, disastrous, “wrong.” Paul Verlaine was a man of subtle spiritual organization, easily succumbed to someone else’s influence, and Rimbaud was called a young genius scoundrel. Arthur Rimbaud, the free-spirited French poet whose openly gay lifestyle shocked even the most avant-garde artists of London and Paris in the late 19th Century. Whatever it was, their relationship gave birth to beautiful poems, which are still read by those around the world.

When Arthur Rimbaud turned 16, he decided to write to Paul Verlaine, at that time already known to the poet. The young man admired Verlaine’s creativity and attached his poems to his letter. To the great surprise of Rimbaud, Paul Verlaine liked his poetry, and even invited the young man to Paris, paying the way.

Paul Verlaine grew up in completely different conditions, his mother loved him very much, and from childhood he was easily succumbed to someone else’s influence. Already at a young age, he tasted alcohol and hashish. But, what was most frightening for the poet, is his attraction to men. Paul Verlaine believed that this was unnatural. He tried to “heal from this disease,” by tying himself in bonds of marriage. The chosen poet was Mathilde Mauté de Fleurville. Being a 17-year-old girl, she was portrayed in Verlaine’s verses. In 1870 they were married, and soon Matilda became pregnant.

In 1871, Arthur Rimbaud appeared at the poet’s door. He looked terrible: disheveled unwashed hair, dirty clothes, a cold look. When he was invited to the table, the provincial poet constantly belched, gurgled, and spoke with his mouth open. Matilda was horrified, and Paul looked at the young talent as bewitched. Rimbaud took the poet’s wife as an enemy, and in conversations with Verlaine, he called her “the rat.” Verlaine introduced Arthur Rimbaud, who was 10 years younger than him, to his circle. Friends did not know how to relate to the poet’s protege. His talent was recognized by all, but the terrible behavior of Rimbaud repelled people.

Rimbaud had a detrimental effect on Verlaine. If earlier he somehow held back the “demons” inside himself, now they broke free. When Verlaine moved to the side of homosexual love, the images of Minerva and Venus immediately disappeared from his poems. Verlaine began to get drunk on a daily basis to the point of unconsciousness. The poet preferred absinthe and became very aggressive when drunk. Verlaine began to beat his wife, but after the fights, he begged forgiveness from Matilda. One day he almost provoked a miscarriage. In the end, she could not stand it and filed for divorce.

In the passionate relationship between the poets, aggression was constantly present. Once, Arthur wounded Paul with a knife in the thigh and arm. He did not report it to the police. After a while, Verlaine had already shot at Rimbaud, and that debacle ended with a 2-year prison sentence for him! Rimbaud rejoiced at this turn of events; he grew tired of the adult, always drunk lover.

After Verlaine was released from prison, they met for the last time. Their conversation ended in a quarrel. Rimbaud found some wealthy patrons and went to the colony. As for Paul Verlaine, every year he fell ever lower. The only “bright spot” in his life he claimed was the connection with the “brilliant scoundrel”. Rimbaud died at 37 years old. It is this age that is called critical for poets. Paul Verlaine died of pneumonia in Paris at the age of 51.

The above account of the two lovers would make for a great fictional story in its own right. And while my stories don't include men who knife or shoot one another, I think they're just as exciting!

I hope you'll take a look (if you like raunchy gay romance). All are available for #FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Thanks so much for stopping by today!

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