Emile Verhaeren (1855-1916) is the most important Belgian poet in the French language. He was born and educated in Flanders and then settled into the literary community of Brussels where he soon became a pivotal link with the symbolist movement in Paris, finally moving there in 1898. Verhaeren's oeuvre is immense and was often illustrated by leading artists of the day. A national treasure, and symbol of defiance against German aggression, he died in an accident in Rouen station in 1916.

• Preface / 9 , Introduction / 11, A Note on the Texts / 29, Baking Bread / 33, In Winter / 33, To the Monks / 35, London / 37, The Windmill / 39, To Die / 39, The Frost / 41, Fatal Flower / 43 , My Fingers / 45, Crown / 47, Piously / 49 , The Revolt / 51, The Corpse / 53 , The Town (excerpt) / 57, The Beggars / 57, Madman's Song III / 61, The Snow / 65, The Rain / 67, The Wind / 71, The Silence / 73, The Ferryman / 79 , The Plain / 83, The Soul of the Town / 87 , The Fair Hours i / 95 , The Fair Hours iii / 97, The Fair Hours xviii / 99 , An Evening Hour / 99, One Morning / 103 , On the Shore / 103, The Afternoon Hours x / 107, The Afternoon Hours xxix / 107, The Tree / 109, Further than the Stations, the Evening / 113, Grey Weather / 117, The Danger / 117, Noon / 121 , The Fallen Port / 12, Along the Quay / 123, The Barge / 125, The Ship / 129, The Darkness / 131, The Evening Hours viii / 131 , The Evening Hours xxvi / 133, The Shadows / 133, The Storm / 135 ,The Dead / 137, Shady Quarter / 139, November is Clear and,Cold / 141