Holy Places of France - the beauty of the Mont

Didn't I see the sheep?

So beautiful and pure

Grazing as though in Heaven

So peaceful and secure:

 

In the distance a mountain

So lovely to behold

perhaps as a graceful fountain

sometime made of gold:

 

For was it not thus

this rock of St Michel so?

For us,

looking as from below?

 

The Heavens must have gazed down upon us this day

For it had been raining all upon the way-

A beautiful place

this saintly abode

Mont St Michel

The Angels sing:

 

Heaven's grace could surely

not find another

of beauty and harmony

graceful in each other;

This life, this love

enduring spirit

Mont St Michel

Shines as from above:

 

for it was in June

I visited this place;

the Sun shone down

upon its face:-

come late after noon:

 

Majesty, beauty

so rare, so unseen

Graces from Heaven

a celestial Queen;

For this was a place

I always wished to see

My hope, my esprit,

My reason to be-

for God in his mercy

Looked down upon me-

 

I came to Mont St Michel

with hope in my heart

to be inspired

right from the start;

 

Beauteous gardens

do wrap around me

Old stone walls

do surround me;

 

Garlands of flowers

do cry out to the sea

The measure of beauty

is unknown to thee;

whispering trees

bedecked and unknown

Stand shivering

in lees

golden and blown;

This beauteous monument

flings wild its charms

Joan of Arc, Saint Michael

the free;

Praying for more of wonders

to see;

A chapel beholden

The spirit emboldened

This wondrous place

A haven of grace;

Came from above

to render its place;

A miracle

wrought to be;

In dazzling light

splendour bright

a silvery show

glistening reflections

of a sea and sky bow.

The Maid

The Maid by Kimberly Cutter

Statue of Joan of Arc in Paris from wikipedia:

(of gilt bronze)

A powerful and beautifully scripted story

of Joan of Arc. Magnificent in its scope

and also an inspirational story of an inspirational

young woman who inspired thousands of soldiers

to follow her.

I enjoyed reading this book. It is as though the reader

travels with Joan of Arc through her tumultuous life,

relating to her sadness and also her joy of life.

This book is descriptive and evokes a time in France of

the early fifteenth century when life was very different with

the English and Burgundy in opposition to the Holy Kingdom

of France, as Joan of Arc at the time believed the kingdom was

and that she had been sent on a holy mission from God to

free France and crown the king, Charles VII, at Reims Cathedral,

where all previous kings had been crowned.

The story is quite extraordinary as Joan of Arc was a young peasant

girl without material support or influence initially,

but who showed true faith, strength in opposition and determination.

Unfortunately, there are also gruesome battle accounts in the story

however the author does portray the times authentically and is most

likely reflecting the harsh reality of some of those more distant battles

in the past. Also, sometimes perhaps the harshness of life.

The sword of Charles Martel, who had freed France from the Saracens

was also carried by Joan of Arc. In her magnificent armour and splendid

war horse she must have presented quite a spectacle, a radiant vision, leading her soldiers on to

battle and riding with the wind across the beautiful fields of France holding her

white satin banner aloft with the inscription of Jesu Maria on both sides

and a picture of Jesus on the globe and two winged angels with golden lilies

in the background and was also trimmed with golden fringe.

Joan of Arc showed bravery and was a fearless

warrior. She also had many loyal supporters. She became quite the heroine

after the siege of Orleans.

This book gives an incentive to read more of

Joan of Arc. There is a site “Maid of Heaven” of poetry written by a

contemporary poet of the time, Christine de Pisan who wrote of Joan of Arc.

“The Maid” is a wonderful story to read with magnificent settings in the Valley

of the Loire and the castles where Joan of Arc often stayed with the king and

his courtiers.

The depiction of the characters surrounding Joan of Arc, her supporters and fellow

soldiers, including the The Duc D'Alencon, who had been a prisoner of the English

for five years, gives a personal perspective.

The dialogue is crisp and clear and the story flows from the pages.

A wonderful story to behold! Beautiful.

Don't Fence Me In and A Visit to the Park

Once again the poetry of Banjo Patterson and Henry Lawson proves popular
at Poetry in Paradise which was held at the library in the week-end.  These
poets wrote bush poetry of Australia and stories of the outback which is a
popular genre.

I include two poems which I wrote for the occasion.
(For poems of Versailles, please refer to earlier postings.)

I have commenced reading the powerful novel of Joan of Arc and read to
chapter 25 last night.  I will continue reading this riveting story and write a
review later.  The book
is "The Maid" by Kimberly Cutter and this is powerful writing indeed!  I
am finding the book enjoyable to read as it is set in early times in rural France,
 Domremy, the little village where Joan of Arc grew up with her family.
I love books which are set in France and also enjoyed reading of the early years
of Louise de la Valliere in rural French towns and villages in the Loire region
of France and Paris in Sandra Gulland's
novel of "Mistress of the Sun."

I sometimes think I would like to write a novel.  The  standard of writing by
new and contemporary writers is quite extraordinary. I am always impressed.

Don't Fence Me In

 

What a wonderful song!

A reminder of old times round a piano

A sing-song

Don't Fence Me In:

The Song would go

From a long time ago:

I think of beautiful meadows

where elk and deer roam free

Tall grasses, wild swan

And trees of glorious colour would see

And the antelope chases down a mountain stream

The Song of the antelope

As a dream

Wild nature at its best

Natural environment forms the rest;

Shingle pathways with wild flowers

Swaying in the breeze

fields and fields of corn and maize

and in the distance

a setting sun

glimmering in its haze-

A Sun's haze-

beautiful, enduring

creating a golden landscape

of spectacle;

The darkening shadows

The land at Sun-fall

Or-

an eclipse, a Star-light glimpse,

where Earth and Sun and Moon collide

“Now you see me,

Now you don't”-

In a magical Earth-like slide

And the Sun and the Moon do glide

In glorious wonder from Heaven's side

“Oh, to be a fairy on a magical Moon trip ride”

Through the celestial stars and skies so wide:

Nature and magic

It is so blessed

A beauteous world

golden, carressed;

Glimpsed with wonder in my eyes

The sparkling lights of Texas lie

Flying across American skies:

So beautiful for sure

This wondrous world

with sights unfurled;

“Beauty” and “Light”

Falls within

and falls without-

Now we know what the Song's about

“Don't Fence Me In.”

As the seasons are now changing and on the

Gold Coast the spring colours are quite vibrant,

noticeable and beautiful I will take some more

pictures and post some of the photos.

Next poem:

Visiting the Park

Visiting the Park

spring colours

Bright and stark.

Oranges, yellows

greens and blue

In shades and shadows

Budding flowers of every hue-

What a gift of nature be

Glorious in majesty:-

Lilies on a gleaming pond

Star-light, Star-bright

A glittering Sun:-

ducklings, starlings

can be found;

In trees of ever-green

bird song echoes

a magical sound

swirling in a care-free scene:

A beauteous light

Patterned bright

sets the scene:

A world is free:-

And here it was

that a golden friend

was met be chance

came across my path:

For as the day

deepened and became dark

He needed shelter from the park:

Golden labrador,

that he was-

His name “Amber” was because:

Amber eyes with golden coat

Knew instructions as by rote:

“Sit Down,

Come here.”-

Friendly, happy

socialised

As with people

he could cope:

Such a good boy

A cherished friend

And to his home

I had to send.