Moonlight over Versailles

Moonlight over Versailles

The moon, the light, the beauty.

Imagine a beautiful moon over Versailles: the light glinting off the spray of the fountains,

the magical moonbeams playing over the gardens, the flowers and tree-lined avenues.

I have not attended any of the night shows at the Chateau of Versailles but I can imagine

how wonderful they must be.

 

I have attended an afternoon baroque music show where all of the fountains were playing

and it was beautiful. 

Even at closing time on an overcast day the flower gardens are enhanced and look beautiful.

 

 

The Light

This is a poem which I wrote in 2004. 

The Light

The beautiful still moonlight shines brightly over the landscape

No shadows veil this serene beauty

Why cannot I be so still and silent, like this beautiful moonlit night?

Hush, whisper the sounds of the night

Lest this wish be granted

Wait, I say how do I ease my pain

And find my gain

Is it only to be found in truth and light?

Wait until the morning, I hear

See the light glinting on the leaves of the trees

Know the sun will shine brightly

And enhance the beauty which nature decrees

Day and Night

Night and Day

Chasing each other away

Time never stood still

Now there is another will

We sang and we died

The never ending pattern of life-

The Light of Day and Night

So fleeting,

The sunny days of youth passed us by

How deep the yearning cry

Of Childhood Dreams

And of lives unredeemed

Reflecting on lives well spent

And better times which went

Of Long Forgotten yesterdays

Hush whispers the mother to its young

Stay calm until the morning comes

Watch the bird swoop in the morning sky

In the clear blue light of another day

So graceful in its flight

In the early morning light

See how the sun sparkles on the crest of a sea-wave

Filtering its way

Through clouds

And forming a stream of light

So bright -

For now

From the time

When we are born

There is a New Light on the morn

The glorious light of a New Easter Dawn

And in the pale moonlight

I looked out upon this Land

Which cast in this ethereal glow

Seemed etched as though by an Angel’s Hand

Listened to the sea-waves lapping upon the sand

It all became so clear

A beautiful landscape within my sight

I knew such beauty bestowed upon us

Came from the Grace of light

Against the Wind "Six Ribbons"

Against the Wind is a made for television series of 13 parts which I have recently viewed on you tube.
This series is well recommended and describes the difficulties encountered by the early immigrants and
convicts in New South Wales, Australia.  It is quite compelling viewing and I enjoyed watching this series.
The first episodes are set it in Ireland and thereafter in the new colony of New South Wales.
 The characters needed to be quite strong to survive the rigours of their ordeals at sea, as convicts in the new land and also as new colonists at the time.
A theme song of the series is "Six Ribbons" which is quite beautiful by Jon English.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9W5lQNFb-M

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

This wonderful story appealed for its beautiful story line and also for

the magnificent descriptive quality of the prose.  A Paris book-seller

had been in love with a woman and the story details

his love and loss and how he eventually comes to terms with his grief

for the loss of his love which endures for many years.

 

Jean Perdu ( John Lost) travels through France on a boat on the Seine River

traversing different regions and counties, rivers and canals and eventually

arrives in beautiful Provence.  There is a map of his travels by water and by road listed at the beginning of the book.

 

This is indeed a fascinating story of love and loss and also a story of great beauty,

the meaning of love and loss.  I enjoyed reading this story though I was surprised

at times to read the travel diaries of Manon, (Jean Perdu’s lost love) also included in the story.  This book

has been translated into English and was originally published in Germany.

 

There are interesting and fascinating characters in the story whom Jean

Perdu relates to well after living a life of seeming isolation for many years.

The characters also add colour and joie de vivre to the novel with their

myriad emotions, reflections on life, eccentricities and their joy of living.

 

To me the most beautiful aspects of the book are the wonderful descriptions

of river life while travelling on the barge, the little towns and villages and also

the beauty of the landscape under the skies of Provence.  The mountains,

the little villages and the greenery of trees and pasture and the beautiful lavender fields described almost as a chequered quilt, so beautiful!

 

This book also gives a great understanding of life and the turmoil some

people may encounter.  I enjoyed reading this book and it is well recommended.