Vowels

A forerunner of the surrealists, Arthur Rimbaud wrote every one of his extant poems before he was twenty years old, including the “Sonnet des voyelles” (“ Vowels”), here presented in French and with the English translation by Wallace Fowlie on alternating lines. The poet has assigned colors to the vowels—nnA black, E white, I red, O blue, U green. “I flattered myself that I was inventing a poetic language available . . . to all the senses,” wrote Rimbaud. “The Star Wept”–a quatrain which further explores color symbolism –is appended to “Vowels” to complete this edition. Henri Cartier-Bresson, who is as famous for his paintings as for his photographs, has created three swirling watercolors which further explore the evocative power of colors.