The December countryside purrs sun-drenched.
Dazed by a barrage of rays, Lourmarin’s
buildings, cut-sandstone cream, curl entrenched
in quietude; local folk are sleeping in.
The roads of cobblestone, tail-twist, and weave;
centuries of frost and footfalls mark the place
where Medici royalty ruled and reaved.
Ghosts prowl unwilling to leave last night’s trace.
Shop doors open with a creak; vendors peek
outside and beam, the smell of coffee breezes.
Tea seeps near pitchers of cream on antiques;
the market opens early—just to tease.
On the trail of delights in Lourmarin,
baguette in hand, I search out a jam man.
Baguette in hand, I search out a jam man.
Up and up, I walk, eyes sharp, my head cocked,
to reach the clock for time here ticks unplanned,
past signs of local art, but the door’s locked.
I’m awake too early this Sunday morn.
Down I run: on a crooked trail, past a crèche,
in a chair of birch, on a seat well worn;
the manger awaits the birth of the blessed,
beneath a golden star; the story’s told.
But, I am off to a town called Bonnieux.
The road’s clear; we climb as the Alps unfold
bare vines, fruitless orchards fill the view.
There’s but a moment’s rest and so, I sigh;
Roussillon and its red cliffs are nearby.
Deborah Guzzi writes full time and travels for inspiration. Her third book The Hurricane is available through Prolific Press and at aleezadelta@aol.com. Her poetry appears in: Allegro Poetry Magazine and Artificium in the UK, Existere – Journal of Arts and Literature and Scarlet Leaf Review, Canada – Tincture, Australia – Cha: Asian Literary Review, China – Eunoia in Singapore – Vine Leaves Literary Journal – Greece, mgv2>publishing – France, and Ribbons: Tanka Society of America, pioneertown, Sounding Review, Bacopa Literary Review, Shooter, The Aurorean, Crack the Spine Literary Magazine, Liquid Imagination, Concis, The Tishman Review, Page & Spine & others in the USA. the-hurricanedg.com.
Foxglove Journal 