'Poème du Mois - 004 L'albatros' Summary

In "L'Albatros," Baudelaire compares the poet to an albatross, a majestic seabird that is clumsy and awkward on land but graceful and free in the air. When the albatross is brought onto the deck of a ship, the sailors mock and ridicule it, finding it clumsy and awkward. This mirrors the poet's experience of being misunderstood and ostracized by society. The sailors represent the uncomprehending public that does not appreciate the poet's sensitivity and talent. The albatross, despite its awkwardness on land, is majestic and free in the air, symbolizing the poet's ability to create beautiful and meaningful art. The poem explores the burden of artistic sensitivity, the isolation of the artist, and the struggle for acceptance in a society that does not understand creative genius.