A story of love
It’s hot on our hill
Hot and humid as hell
On our hill
Hounoux, mid August
So daily we dip
Hourly we slip, grateful
For cool, splash of the pool
Even at night no breath no respite
All of us here, Brits in the sun
Baked dry as the land, parched, listless and limp
But these two are coping, feeling it chill
Taking it easy, better by far
Than Texan inferno, desert and drought
Glad to be here, taking the air
Breathing the landscape, the culture of France
A meeting of peoples
Colliding of lives, different lives
Sharing, respectful, across the divide
Old world and new, political clash, discord
Heated contention, right wing and left
But listen and watch
Expression and tone
Poetry reading, laughter and tears
Shared history and fears
Emotional, generous, opening of hearts
Two families meeting
Sharing, respectful, across the divide
A moment in time
Hot on the hill
Hounoux, mid August
A story of love
It’s hot on our hill
Hot and humid as hell
On our hill
Hounoux, mid August
So daily we dip
Hourly we slip, grateful
For cool, splash of the pool
Even at night no breath no respite
All of us here, Brits in the sun
Baked dry as the land, parched, listless and limp
But these two are coping, feeling it chill
Taking it easy, better by far
Than Texan inferno, desert and drought
Glad to be here, taking the air
Breathing the landscape, the culture of France
A meeting of peoples
Colliding of lives, different lives
Sharing, respectful, across the divide
Old world and new, political clash, discord
Heated contention, right wing and left
But listen and watch
Expression and tone
Poetry reading, laughter and tears
Shared history and fears
Emotional, generous, opening of hearts
Two families meeting
Sharing, respectful, across the divide
A moment in time
Hot on the hill
Hounoux, mid August
A story of love
August 19th 2009, for Chuck and Kathryn with love
I found myself there reading this. How lucky I am to be able to do this, thank you.
ReplyDeleteAnd how fortunate are we Jude to be able to tell over and over our Stories of love from the house on the hill. I truly missed you yesterday, being chambermaid in chief, as it was change-over day in the gite! Still Rosie was a very good stand-in and the sheets are drying so quickly in the high heat that - for once- I didn't iron them!!! Standards are falling I fear with high-occupancy rates... Today Jay is arriving and tomorrow H and Zach, so we could not be more fortunate, although of course Anna is left behind and pining in Brighton. Kathryn has been so responsive to my poems and is in the middle of one she's writing for us, so am very excited about that. As I write this I am hoping soon to have the best news about my 'godson' and your beloved boy.
ReplyDeleteWahey, way to go Joshua! You did it- so happy for you and all your hard work payed off. All that parental support so very exhausting, so very worthwhile, Jude!
ReplyDeleteI would love to know the full story behind this. I seem to see a strong indication of how very open and lovable our American friends can be and then - how suddenly very foreign and absolutely infuriating! I think I find "respectful across the divide" a very good principle for being able to love people so very different from ourselves!
ReplyDeleteWe had two special visitors with us, Chuck who is nearly our age and a large Texan guy, and his daughter Kathryn who is a similar age to our daughter Rosie, also with us at the same time. Chuck has been a long-standing friend of daughter Anna, from the time she first came to live in this area of France. He is also Lily's godfather. He will disappear back home to USA for years at a time during which we hear very little from him, then reappear as he did this summer. It was our first meeting with lovely Kathryn. Chuck is staunchly Republican and so anti-Obama.Our family tends towards liberal views, politically. We have lively discussions, but also many points of contact on other issues. Chuck and Kathryn both responded very warmly to my daily 'poetry readings'! Kathryn prefers them read to her by me, but has become a blog follower. Our relationship with them is truly a Story of Love.
ReplyDeleteKathryn's own poem
ReplyDeleteFamily at center
She’s firm on the throne
With watchful eye
And infinite heart
She’s calling and coaxing
And herding her flock
With loved ones threatened
Like bull into battle with rage
With little ones,
With family and friends
A queen of mercy
Kindness and care
Her spirit shines strong
She’s captured my heart
And opened my eyes
Though worlds apart
With sweet comfort I call her
Adored friend of mine
--------------------