Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Where I lived when I won 9 Little League games in a row
Mes Amis en Saint Hilaire
Le Rive Loiret is an idyllic placidly meandering strand,
sheltered by the gentle green forests of the Loire Valley
and delivered into light on the open plains of France
Small rowboats carrying children
glide over the carp and perch en ballet,
flashing en hommage au soliel,
just beneath the surface of the swirls.
The Loiret emanates,
Le Rive Loiret is an idyllic placidly meandering strand,
sheltered by the gentle green forests of the Loire Valley
and delivered into light on the open plains of France
Small rowboats carrying children
glide over the carp and perch en ballet,
flashing en hommage au soliel,
just beneath the surface of the swirls.
The Loiret emanates,
coursing brashly from beneath the ground.
And, after a fashion of a casual tour around
And, after a fashion of a casual tour around
La Cite d' Orleans,
she disappears;
she disappears;
gently subsiding
into the moist brown earth
that is
that is
the soul
of France.
In fact,
of France.
In fact,
it is a secret tributary of the great Rive Loire,
for which the Valley and her grand Chateaux
for which the Valley and her grand Chateaux
are named.
Although, at times
separated
by a day's walk,
they share the same source;
they share the same source;
They are the same waters.
Jeanne D'Arc slept on the banks of the Loiret;
she dipped her hands into its waters
Jeanne D'Arc slept on the banks of the Loiret;
she dipped her hands into its waters
and touched them to her brow,
while gliding in small boats
while gliding in small boats
across gentle eddies,
rippled by the brilliant flashes
rippled by the brilliant flashes
of the breaching carp and perch.
Was I eleven or twelve, when I knew;
although separated in time
Was I eleven or twelve, when I knew;
although separated in time
by half a millenium,
the children I saw in the boats,
the children I saw in the boats,
and the beloved girl saint;
had shared the same waters,
and were of the same source.
Vive La France
I won the 9 Little League games without benefit of a curveball.... or Jesus.
had shared the same waters,
and were of the same source.
Vive La France
I won the 9 Little League games without benefit of a curveball.... or Jesus.
