Hombres (Hommes)

by Paul Verlaine

"Hombres (Hommes)" by Paul Verlaine is a poetry collection written between 1868 and 1891, published posthumously in 1903. The final volume in Verlaine's erotic trilogy, this work explores male homosexuality through fifteen explicit poems rooted in the poet's intimate life. Drawing particularly on his tumultuous relationship with Arthur Rimbaud two decades earlier, Verlaine resurrects memories through nostalgic eroticism. Considered provocative for its frank treatment of same-sex desire, the collection remained suppressed for many years after publication.