One Summer in the City of Light

Paris

An explosion
in Boul. St. Miche.
I was not there last night.

Paris

He bought me pastry
after church.
I don’t remember his name.

Paris

Mime performs for lunchers
in Rue de la Harpe,
holds out his skull cap for alms.

Paris

Le font Deschatelets
spills coolness
on the steamy pavement.

Paris

Poodle leads owner
on winding paths,
Ie parc Montsouris.
Do not step on the grass,
S.V.P.

Paris

Statue in sculpture garden
meditating.
The Thinker, by Rodin.

Paris

Monet’s Hay Stacks
dress the wall at Jeu de paume.
In the Louvre
Mona Lisa smiles
behind her layers of glass.

Paris

On the bridge Alexandre III
we hold our wallets close.
Street children watching
casually approach.

Paris

Flea Market day.
A damsel with a donkey
offers thread and needles.
I buy an unmatched
demitasse and saucer.
Five francs.
It’s Limoges.

Paris

Eternal summer
in my memory.

– Patricia Trudeau

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