Feeling unwell
Verlaine was advised
To find somewhere
the winter sun.
One of his five unborn
brothers –
Scholars disagree
which one it was --
Agreed to take his
place for a while
Springing from the
bottle their mother
Had put him in after
her miscarriage.
Over five frenzied
weeks he wrote
Thirty three poems
and a masque.
When Verlaine
returned his brother
Apologized for
having shot Rimbaud
Verlaine shrugged
and the two
Drank absinthe and
drew lots
As to which would go
to jail.
