In Paris, we walked–through Montmartre, perhaps–
where people carried baguettes under their arms,
like my mother’s purse. Look, my parents said,
there, the Seine, the Mona Lisa, the Eiffel Tower—
and they glanced through guidebooks and at maps
for lost love, and Paris’s hidden charms
rekindled their passion for only a moment instead.
As the bells tolled the new year, the passing hours
my older sister read, and fed us scraps–
the story of the Danish prince; no harm
in telling this story of ghosts, the dead
return, my mom still sits amongst the flowers.
For dVerse, an attempt at Rimas Dissolutas.
How our memories compress and mingle time! So poignant and true. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe. That they do.
So very true, and especially here.
Thank you, Ken.
So poignant, Merril X
Thank you, Derrick. 💙
Beautiful and poignant! 🙂
Thank you very much!
You have my heart with this one, Merril! 😀 Especially moved by; “and they glanced through guidebooks and at maps for lost love, and Paris’s hidden charms/rekindled their passion for only a moment instead.” Thank you so much for adding your voice to the prompt! 💝💝
Thank you so much, Sanaa! ❤️
These were the lines that got me as well.
Thank you, Liz. This is sort of a companion piece to the one about London in Black Bough’s Christmas/Winter issue that you heard me read. It was the same trip.
Both pieces are wonderful.
Thank you very much!
You’re welcome!
I kept the pace with you walking through Paris, there is a great beat to the verses! I especially enjoyed the pictures and that last stanza is special! 💞
Thank you, Tricia. 💙
Welcome! 🌸
This is a beautiful tribute to your mom, Merril! Montmartre was my favourite part of Paris.
Thank you, Ingrid. I just made up the Montmartre part–I was about 10 on that trip, and I have no idea where we were in Paris. 🤣 I do remember my parents commenting on the baguettes though.
It is very beautiful 😅
Aww–thank you so much! 💙
What beautiful verses you’ve woven around the love for your mother, Merril. This is so special. Your mom must be grinning from ear to ear above, sharing these memories with you. ❤
Perhaps her ghost is.
Thank you, Colleen. 💙
I was so moved by this poem, Merril, the longing and absense and love.
Thank you so much, Liz. I appreciate that. 💙
You’re welcome, Merril.
The last line touched my heart. Wow! This poem feels perfect to me.
We visited most of the sites in Paris but missed Montmartre. That’s okay.
Thanks for the virtual visit, Merril!
Thank you so much, Marian!
I have no idea if we really walked through Montmartre or not. I was only 10 at the time.
😀
Special people and special places get mixed up, and the mix is so potent we never forget. You’ll have all of that forever.
Thank, yes, you’re right.
It’s so funny the things I remember, like the hotel room where my sisters and I were (gold and white), and my big sister sitting on the extra bed in the corner telling us about Hamlet while we could hear people celebrating New Year’s Eve outside.
You had a tremendous big sister!
Well. . .it’s complicated. 😏 For a private discussion some time.
If I’d had an older sister, I’d have liked one who threw Hamlet at me.
I did like that part. I was a voracious reader, and I used to take books from her room. I’m sure she had to read Hamlet for school, so she decided to tell us about it. Perhaps I asked what she was reading.
It’s a good memory. Many of my early memories revolve around books. Usually books I couldn’t read!
I have early memories of books, too. (Of course.) 😀
🙂
Awww… when was this, Merril?
❤
David
Hi, David–The poem is about a trip my family took to London (I wrote about it in a poem published in Black Bough Poetry) and Paris when I was ten. It was over the Christmas holiday. We were in Paris on New Year’s Eve. The photo is from a few years ago in Philadelphia.
This is beautiful, Merril! I love the photo of you and your mother, too.
Thank you so much, Jill. The photo was taken next door to where she lived in Philadelphia.
Absolutely beautiful and breathtaking in each line. I’d love to visit Europe one day, and Paris is now on the list. 😀 I love how you took us on a glimpse of this trip, it just sounds so mesmerizing, heartfelt, and special.
Aww–thank you so much, Lucy. I was only there as a child, and that was a long time ago! 💙
What a great heartfelt poem Merril. I loved the story, and the form was perfect. I love your last line. Great photo as well.
Thank you so much, Dwight. 💙
Breathtakingly touching. The baguette handbag and the image. This poem iis moving, Merril.
Thank you–very much appreciated, K.
What a beautiful tribute to your mom Merril and love your picture! 💖
Thank you very much, Cindy. ❤️
You’re so welcome! ❤️
It’s amazing the things we remember from our childhood! Very touching, Merril and that photo with your mom is adorable. ❤️
Thank you so much. ❤️ It is funny what we remember.
A beautiful exercise in the form, and one which speaks so eloquently of how our memories are one of the few things that always remain ours.I love Paris appearing almost as a magical being in this, capable of filling us with her own qualities..
Thank you very much for your lovely comment!
I love this, Merril. And thanks to you, understand the form better. I may just go nuts and try my hand tomorrow, maybe 🙂
Thank you, and you’re welcome! I hope you do try it! 😀
I hope so too 🙂
Those memories are woven in so skillfully
Thank you so much!
To have those memories is always precious… I hope there are photos as well.
Unfortunately, I don’t think there are photos.
I lived a lifetime in the spanse of your poem.
What a lovely comment. Thank you so much!
Precious and treasured memories. I enjoyed seeing snippets of your time in Paris. 💗
Thank you very much, Rose!💙
What a beautiful and touching tribute.
Thank you very much!
Wonderfully touching, Merril!
Sometimes I have a dream. When I wake up, I realize everyone in the dream has passed away.
It’s like I spent a day with the dead.
It’s sweet that your mom sits amongst the flowers. I don’t where my mom sits, but she is in my dreams, usually with my sister (rip).
Thank you so much, Resa.
In my mom’s final couple years, we often took her outside to sit in a nearby garden. I’ve been seeing both my parents in my dreams recently. That’s nice that you see your mom and sister together.
Thank you! 💙
Reblogged this on The Wombwell Rainbow.
Thank you so much, Paul!