The wet wind blew
As I feared it would,
A black cat followed us
Down to the sea.
The black cat snuggled
between our legs
Then hissed
at you and me.
Later, on the train, jambon snuggled next to la beurre.
The yellow vests marched
As I thought they might
The red vests followed
Like day after night –
But no one knows what the red vests suggest
or mean.
The trees awaken
In purple and white
And Spring arrives
As I thought it might
Despite the warriors of stone – and the long since dead.
Despite black skies –
Torrential rain –
Despite the pain of saints –
And holy mothers fair –
Who reign?
Flowers on trees
Dream softly, would –
Ascend to heaven
if they could –
Instead of falling to earth.
Flowers, granite, graves, rain –
A cat, the saints, the pain, the rood –
If asked by a friend to visit France –
you should, in Spring,
in Spring,
you should.
* * *
Photos from Paris, Mont St. Michel, Rennes, St. Malo, and St. Suliac.
Mary Puryear and Ella Steinhilber – your lovely friendship is – evergreen.
* * *
From the American cemetery near Rennes (4000 + interred)…
March 17, 2019 at 5:48 am
Tres Jolie!
March 17, 2019 at 4:32 pm
Merci cherie! xoxo
March 17, 2019 at 7:16 am
Glorious. And I can’t emphasize this enough – Mavis has not stopped talking about the cat. 🙂
March 17, 2019 at 4:33 pm
We wanted to kidnap the cat and bring it home. 🙂 xoxo!
March 17, 2019 at 7:18 am
Lovely post Jennifer!
March 17, 2019 at 4:33 pm
Thank you, dear Carolyn! xoxo
March 17, 2019 at 7:24 am
Wow (in French)
March 17, 2019 at 4:39 pm
xoxo!!
March 17, 2019 at 7:49 am
Magnifique!
March 17, 2019 at 4:36 pm
Merci beaucoup! C’est un beau pays! xoxo
March 17, 2019 at 8:48 am
simply beautiful, JP! so glad you went…
March 17, 2019 at 4:37 pm
Thank you so much, dear friend! And thank you for the special delivery waiting on my doorstep… xoxo
March 17, 2019 at 11:36 am
This is special..what a wonderful time.
March 17, 2019 at 4:37 pm
Thank you, Anne! I felt so lucky to be there! xoxo
March 17, 2019 at 4:49 pm
Love this post – or rather poem!!
March 18, 2019 at 7:17 am
Thank you, E!! xoxo
March 17, 2019 at 4:51 pm
Beautiful photos – it’s definitely almost spring in Paris! What a special time with your daughter.
March 18, 2019 at 7:12 am
Every season in Paris is a good one, right?! I did feel so grateful for the time with my younger daughter. I’m so delighted to hear from you at Bacon! xoxo
March 17, 2019 at 8:58 pm
So beautiful, Jennifer!
March 18, 2019 at 7:10 am
Thank you so much, Hope! It makes me feel great to hear from you! xoxo
March 18, 2019 at 8:49 am
Oh Jennifer, so lovely! We are going to Paris in April and would love to have coffee about what we should not miss. Your light touch with poetry is like an impressionist painting–and so inspiring and timely for us. Wish I could be in your brain, but I will settle for sharing your eyes and vision–the photos are breathtaking! Love your work.
March 18, 2019 at 9:29 am
Dear Beth – Your kind words mean so much to me. Truly, you are such an encouragement to me. And yes let’s please get together for coffee soon and talk Paris!! I’m glad you’re going soon!! xoxo
March 18, 2019 at 9:44 am
Beautiful!
March 18, 2019 at 12:08 pm
Thank you, Hannah! Sending love. xoxo
March 18, 2019 at 11:53 am
What nice photos Jennyfer and texts. Congrats.
You will be always welcome to Brittany and why not to Normandy too… It was a pleasure to meet you and Marie too.
March 18, 2019 at 12:07 pm
How lovely to hear from you here at Bacon, Damien! We enjoyed every moment with you and so appreciated your warm hospitality and kindness! Thank you for being in touch. xoxo
March 19, 2019 at 8:48 am
Love everything about this – words and photos; the memories it brings back. So beautiful!
March 28, 2019 at 4:25 pm
Thank you so much, Claudia! I look forward to seeing you at our library event very soon! Xoxo