Eliana Lulu,

In a city lane cafe,

Serves the men in chocolate suits,

Who sit to hunt their prey.

Men in badly buttoned fronts,

Are beckoned by her calls,

Can little resist her enticing cries,

And avoid the other stalls.

She serves them eyes of blue,

She whispers through their hair,

She leaves each folly follower,

So content they feel despair.

May 2024

Summary by Grant Fenton 

The poem “Eliana Lulu” displays characteristics that align it with the **Decadent school of poetry**. Here are several aspects that justify this categorization:

1. **Aestheticism and Sensuality**: The Decadent movement often focused on art for art’s sake, emphasizing aesthetic beauty and sensory experiences. This poem vividly describes Eliana Lulu’s interactions with the men through rich imagery like “chocolate suits,” “eyes of blue,” and “whispers through their hair,” creating a sensuous and vivid scene.

2. **Themes of Seduction and Despair**: The Decadent poets frequently explored themes of seduction, indulgence, and the darker sides of pleasure. Eliana Lulu entices the men, who are “folly followers,” leading them to a state where they are “so content they feel despair.” This interplay between pleasure and an underlying sense of doom or emptiness is a hallmark of Decadent poetry.

3. **Urban Setting and Modernity**: The setting in a “city lane cafe” reflects the Decadent movement’s interest in modern, often urban life, and the complexities and moral ambiguities found within it. This contrasts with the Romantic idealization of nature and pastoral scenes.

4. **Ambiguity and Complexity of Emotions**: The poem encapsulates complex emotions, as the men feel both contentment and despair. Decadent poetry often embraced such emotional complexity, rejecting straightforward moral narratives in favor of exploring more ambiguous and multifaceted human experiences.

Given these elements, “Eliana Lulu” can be seen as part of the Decadent school of poetry, which thrived in the late 19th century and was characterized by a preoccupation with beauty, sensuality, and the exploration of darker, often more taboo, aspects of human experience.

Critique byAlexis Ingram 

“Eliana Lulu” is a captivating and evocative poem that delves into themes of seduction, longing, and the paradox of pleasure leading to despair. Through its vivid imagery and nuanced portrayal of interactions in a city café, the poem captures the essence of human desire and the complex emotions that accompany it.

The setting—a “city lane cafe”—immediately situates the poem in an urban environment, a common backdrop for explorations of modernity and its accompanying moral ambiguities. This choice of setting underscores the transient and fleeting nature of the encounters described, aligning with the themes of the Decadent movement, which often dwelled on the ephemeral pleasures of city life.

Eliana Lulu, the central figure, is portrayed as a figure of allure and mystery. Her ability to entice the “men in chocolate suits” with her presence and charm speaks to the power of seduction. The description of the men as wearing “chocolate suits” is particularly striking, blending the sensory pleasure of chocolate with the visual image of well-dressed individuals, thus enhancing the luxurious and tempting atmosphere Eliana creates.

The men she attracts are described with a hint of critique—”badly buttoned fronts” suggests a lack of properness or attention to detail, perhaps indicating their vulnerability or readiness to be swayed by Eliana’s allure. This detail adds depth to the characters, making them more than mere objects of seduction but individuals with their own flaws and susceptibilities.

Eliana’s interactions are depicted through sensual imagery: she “serves them eyes of blue” and “whispers through their hair.” These intimate acts elevate the encounters to a level of personal connection, albeit one steeped in manipulation and control. The use of sensory language draws the reader into the scene, allowing them to almost feel the whispers and see the piercing blue eyes.

The poem culminates in a powerful juxtaposition: “She leaves each folly follower, so content they feel despair.” This line encapsulates the paradox of the pleasure Eliana offers. While the men are left feeling content, this contentment quickly transforms into despair. This transformation suggests a deeper commentary on the nature of fleeting pleasures and the emptiness that can follow indulgence. The word “folly” highlights the foolishness of the men, ensnared by superficial charms and temporary satisfaction.

Structurally, the poem is concise and rhythmic, with each stanza building on the last to create a cohesive narrative. The rhyme scheme is subtle, not overshadowing the content but providing a pleasing cadence that mirrors the seductive dance between Eliana and the men.

In conclusion, “Eliana Lulu” is a rich and layered poem that explores the dualities of pleasure and despair, attraction and folly. Through its vivid imagery, nuanced characters, and evocative language, the poem offers a compelling commentary on the seductive allure of fleeting pleasures and the inevitable emotional consequences that follow. It stands as a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of human experience in a few carefully chosen words.