The Paris Traveler

This Is Paris To Me

by Lynn on September 18th, 2007

I recently sent one of my poems (not this one) to be included in the Jack Kerouac exhibit that will be taking place on the 23rd of September in Paris at the Cabaret Pirate in front of the BNF (Bibliothèque Nationale de France), which got me to thinking….  How could I have not seen that my poem, This Is Paris To Me, fits in perfectly with my blog! 

                                                                                     THIS IS PARIS TO ME

Cobble stone streets; and chic cafés.
Strolling down the Champs Elysées.
Going into the Madeleine,
or riding the Bateaux Mouches on the Seine.
That is what you must do and see,
but this is not Paris to me.

Les musiciens qui jouent dans le Métro,
le bonjour de la patronne du bistro.
Le marché aux fleurs du dimanche matin,
et un pot au tabac du coin.
Mon joli appartement,
dans une petite rue du Quartier Latin.
That is what you don’t do or see,
but this is Paris to me.

Climbing the stairs up to Montmartre,
to buy pictures that are not really art.
Taking photographs in front of the Eiffel Tower,
the Louvre, Notre-Dame, or on the Pont des Arts.
These are the things that you must do and see.
but this is not Paris to me.

Les diners avec de bons amis,
le cinéma l’après-midi.
Les graces matinées avec mon amant au lit,
en ecoutant la pluie.
C’est ça Paris, c’est ça la vie.
These are the things that you don’t do or see,
but this is Paris to me.

Guided tours of the museums,
a visit to the Bastille, the Invalides,
the Conciergerie.
On top of the Arc of Triumph,
or on the tower at Montparnasse;
sooner or later your feet will get tired
and you will run out of gas.
Still all of this you must do and see,
but this is not Paris to me.

La rentrée de septembre après les vacances.
Les feuilles qui tombent
et donnent l’ambiance.
La baguette chaude qui sort du four,
les cries des enfants qui jouent dans la cour.
Still all of this you do not hear or see,
but this is Paris to me.

Galeries Lafayette, the Bon Marché,
all the shops on the Avenue Montaigne.
Dior, Chanel, Lacroix, and Guerlain,
are sold to you like “petit pain”.
Your arms are full at the duty free,
it’s the start of your shopping spree.
Louis Vuitton, Fauchon, Hermès,
you only want the very best.
This is what you buy and see,
but this is not Paris to me.

La bonne bouffe, les bon vins,
les rendez-vous avec les copains,
Les concerts et les spectacles,
passer des heures à là Fnac.
Flâner dans les rues ou de lire au jardin,
c’est ça la joie, la joie sans fin.
This is what you don’t do or see,
but this is Paris to me.

Drinking champagne at the Moulin Rouge,
the Lido, or the Crazy Horse Saloon.
At those prices you think,
you could have gone to the moon.
And your trip to Paris,
will end too soon.
It may not be the money, but the time you lack,
and of course you say,
you will definitely come back.
This is the beauty you think you see,
but this is not Paris to me.

Paris change de robes
selon les saison.
La couleur des feuilles en automne,
la lumière si grise l’hiver.
Les bourgeons des arbres au printemps,
et le ciel bleu d’été.
Les grands couturiers, donneraient tout
pour ce beau défilé.
Tout ça est gravé dans mes yeux,
est gravé dans mon âme
Paris! Je t’aime, Paname!
This is the beauty that you don‘t see,
but this is Paris to me.

Lynn Rodriguez © 2006

All rights reserved.  Lynn Rodriguez 2007

Photo Credits: Flickr

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