In spite of its relatively classical form, the direct nature of its venereal themes sounds shockingly modern to even today's reader; moreover, the sheer creativity of Rimbaud's imagery would seem to presage his later refinement of this stylistic trait, which has since earned him the title of Visionary.
Along with several other poems, including his much anthologized "Ophélie," Rimbaud sent it (then titled "Credo in Unam,") to Théodore de Banville early in his career, although it went largely unnoticed by the older poet.
"Soleil et chair," like some of Rimbaud's other early works, are important because they illustrate the predominant style from which he, along with his fellow symbolist poets, had learned and were to soon abandon in many ways.
The phrase, "Je regrette le temps de" (I miss the time of...") is almost the chorus to which Rimbaud periodically returns as he portrays the diversity of life that has disappeared with the rise of Christianity.
It appears to teem with energy, abundance, and life, whereas the contemporary world is regarded as suffering from the allegedly Christian belief that man is the center of the universe, the sole focus of a lone creator.