This collection of poems by Charles Marie René Leconte de Lisle, a prominent figure of the Parnassian movement, explores themes of pessimism, fatalism, and the vastness of the universe. Influenced by his upbringing in Réunion, Leconte de Lisle uses vivid imagery and powerful language to convey a sense of the inexorable march of time and the inevitable decay of all things. His poems often focus on the beauty and the cruelty of nature, the indifference of the cosmos, and the tragic fate of humanity. Leconte de Lisle's work is characterized by its formal precision, its use of classical forms, and its exploration of ancient myths and legends. It is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to grapple with the fundamental questions of existence.