Why is it that a simple spark of a smile can be mistaken as an invitation for one to ignite a conversation? As I sat and listened to the screeching and whining of the L train as it powerfully devoured the music that was coming from my headphones, I noticed a man across from me staring at me. As we made eye contact his green eyes continued to bare into me, refusing to look away. Unsure of what to do I awkwardly smiled at him and quickly took out my phone from my bag to appear busy. Unfortunately, this contact was enough for the man to arise from his seat and fill up the empty space next to me. I quickly said a prayer that this man would either, get away from me, not be a creep or at least not a thief. A few moments later I could hear his deep voice attempting to speak to me. Once again unsure of how to respond, I just turned my music up, tightened my grip on my phone, and pretended like there wasn’t a stranger next to me trying to start a conversation. I stayed in this tense position until he gave up and moved away.

In my imitation poem I used many different elements that I noticed in Baudelaire’s poems. From “Get High,” “N’Importe Ou Hors Du Monde” and “The Bad Glazier” I noticed that Baudelaire tends to start his prose poems with his main ideas or thoughts. Another stylistic element I chose to imitate was his great attention to details throughout his poems. The final element I used of Baudelaire, is his style of listing things out in his poems (as seen in “Get High”).