I taught French literature at the University of Michigan between 1966 and 1994 and have a very dear memory of initiating my students to the often obscure language of poets of the 19th and 20th century. It was a very rewarding experience for them and also for me. Most people today do not know how to react to texts which seem absurd and yet deal with the most fundamental questions that we ask ourselves. You will hopefully leave this course having overcome your inhibitions in the face of poetry, whether French or not.