The young poplars fringing the Loire are also tapered trees, like the candles and the coffin. The Loire here is a river which has seen many bodies being used as fish-bait, which gives "the breath of baited bodies" an added layer of meaning.

[The repeated "l" and "b" sounds in this stanza could also be a reference to the length x breadth required to find area of a shape- probably slim and far-fetched]

Here, the word "leaning" appears again, as though the candles are hearkening to the bated or "baited" breath of the young lovers, who are patrons of this cafe. It may also be that the lovers themselves are leaning towards each other, like the tapering candles melting in the dark.

Here, the "coffin tables" are a reference to the coffin-shaped tables which sounds similar to coffee tables. Cafe du Neant is French for Cafe of Nothingness.

Cabaret du Néant, also known as the "Cabaret of Nothingness" or "Cabaret of the Void," was established in Montmartre, Paris, in 1892. It was among the early pioneers of contemporary theme dining establishments, centering its concept around different facets of human mortality and the concept of death. This unique cabaret featured a somber ambiance and offered performances that incorporated magic acts and optical illusions with a strong emphasis on macabre themes.

The repeated "l" sound creates a lulling, musical effect. The space between lighted and leaning makes the reader take a pause, and it looks like the word "lighted" is leaning or reaching towards "leaning", mirroring the bending of the tapers than lean "diagonally". The little candles or "tapers" taper at the end, like the shape of the "coffin" mentioned in the next line.