2 Poems by Ernest Dowson

Ernest Christopher Dowson, born in Lee, Kent, on August 2, 1867, was a pivotal figure in the Decadent movement of late-Victorian English literature. His life, though tragically brief, left an indelible mark on poetry and prose, influencing generations of writers who followed.

Dowson was born into a family of some means, his father owning a dry-docking business in Limehouse. This comfortable upbringing allowed young Ernest to pursue his literary interests from an early age. He attended Queen's College, Oxford, in 1886, though he left in 1888 without taking a degree. His time at Oxford, however, was formative, exposing him to classical literature and the works of French Symbolist poets, both of which would heavily influence his later writing.

The young poet's life took a turn for the tumultuous in the early 1890s. His father's death by suicide in 1894, followed by his mother's death in 1895, left Dowson adrift. It was during this period that he became deeply involved with the Rhymers' Club, a group of London-based poets that included W.B. Yeats and Arthur Symons. This association placed Dowson at the heart of the Decadent movement, which embraced themes of excess, sensuality, and world-weariness.

Dowson's poetry is characterized by its musicality, its preoccupation with loss and despair, and its exploration of unrequited love. His most famous poem, "Non Sum Qualis eram Bonae Sub Regno Cynarae," contains the oft-quoted line "I have been faithful to thee, Cynara! in my fashion," which encapsulates the bittersweet longing that permeates much of his work. The poem "Vitae Summa Brevis Spem Nos Vetat Incohare Longam" gave us the phrase "the days of wine and roses," which has since entered common parlance.

Perhaps the most significant influence on Dowson's poetry was his infatuation with Adelaide Foltinowicz, the daughter of a Polish restaurant owner. Dowson met Adelaide when she was only eleven years old, and his unrequited love for her inspired many of his poems. This relationship, while never consummated, has been the subject of much literary discussion and has contributed to the romanticized image of Dowson as a tortured artist.

Dowson's output was not limited to poetry. He was also a skilled prose writer, producing two novels in collaboration with Arthur Moore: "A Comedy of Masks" (1893) and "Adrian Rome" (1899). His collection of short stories, "Dilemmas" (1895), showcases his talent for crafting atmospheric, melancholic narratives. Additionally, Dowson was a prolific translator, rendering works by Balzac, Zola, and Voltaire into English.

The poet's lifestyle was as infamous as his writing. Dowson was known for his heavy drinking and frequenting of low taverns and brothels in London and Paris. This decadent lifestyle, while feeding his art, took a severe toll on his health. The last years of his life were marked by increasing poverty and illness.

In 1900, near destitute and in failing health, Dowson was found by a friend, Robert Sherard, who took him to his cottage in Catford, southeast London. It was here that Dowson spent his final days, dying of alcoholism and tuberculosis on February 23, 1900, at the age of 32.

Despite his early death, Dowson's influence on English literature has been profound and enduring. His technical mastery of verse forms, particularly the villanelle, has been widely admired. T.S. Eliot praised Dowson's poetry for its "perfect expression of one mood." Dowson's work has also been recognized for its contribution to the development of modern English prose style, with its emphasis on rhythm and sound.

In the years following his death, Dowson's reputation has undergone several reassessments. Initially celebrated as a quintessential Decadent poet, he was later somewhat neglected as literary tastes changed. However, in recent decades, there has been a renewed interest in Dowson's work, with scholars and poets alike recognizing the depth and complexity of his writing.

Dowson's life and work continue to fascinate literary scholars and readers. His poetry, with its themes of lost innocence, fleeting beauty, and the inexorable passage of time, speaks to universal human experiences. The tragedy of his short life, his unrequited love, and his struggles with addiction have all contributed to a romanticized image of the poet that persists to this day.

In conclusion, Ernest Dowson, though his life was brief and often troubled, left behind a body of work that continues to resonate more than a century after his death. His exquisite craftsmanship, his exploration of complex emotions, and his ability to capture the essence of the fin de siècle spirit ensure his place as a significant figure in English literature. Dowson's legacy serves as a poignant reminder of the power of art to transcend the limitations of a single lifetime, continuing to move and inspire readers long after the artist has departed.