It's nice to have a thread dedicated to one of my fellow (and old!) countrymen!
Les Fleurs du Mal is a classic in litterature classes around here!
My fav is "A une passante", I love this idea of a suddent and swift love between two people, just with a glance and then they never see each other again. No sadness but just the pleasure of a moment.
A Passer-by
The deafening street roared on. Full, slim, and grand
In mourning and majestic grief, passed down
A woman, lifting with a stately hand
And swaying the black borders of her gown;
Noble and swift, her leg with statues matching;
I drank, convulsed, out of her pensive eye,
A livid sky where hurricanes were hatching,
Sweetness that charms, and joy that makes one die.
A lighting-flash — then darkness! Fleeting chance
Whose look was my rebirth — a single glance!
Through endless time shall I not meet with you?
Far off! too late! or never! — I not knowing
Who you may be, nor you where I am going —
You, whom I might have loved, who know it too!
It reminds me of James Blunt' song, You're beautiful, pretty much the same deal, only one and a half century later!