English followed by une version en français y una versión en español. And the balmy temperatures in Paris this December week have led to a bit of light, then not-so-light, verse, in English, which appears at the end.

I also take this opportunity to pass along two of the poems encountered in the books referred to below. The Stevie Smith poem is self-explanatory, while the Emily Dickinson poem I do not understand as yet. I await, happily, a dawning enlightenment, of whatever kind it may prove to be. And meanwhile, this is an excellent, and well-known, line: “Mine – here – in Vision – and in Veto!”

Btw : The present piece might bring to mind—or to three different minds—three rather different previous Montaigbakhinian pieces: Jokes . . . blagues . . . chistes, And of course we all have our stories – Y, claro, cada uno… nous avons toutes nos histoires, and A sad story, histoire triste, triste historia.

The magic of old age

English

I looked on my shelves for two poetry books I wished to take with me to dinner. I quickly found one and put it in my backpack. But the other one—which was my favorite poetry book! . . . I looked and looked and looked again and could not find it. I thought I was going to have to order another copy.

Then, at my health club, just before I went to dinner, I opened my backpack, and there both books were!

At the restaurant I realized—was it at the health club or back home?—I had forgotten my glasses.

Français

La magie de la vieillesse

J’ai cherché dans mes étagères deux recueils de poésie que je souhaitais emporter avec moi au dîner. J’en ai rapidement trouvé un et l’ai mis dans mon sac à dos. Mais l’autre, qui était mon recueil préféré,… Je l’ai cherché et cherché, mais en vain. J’ai pensé que j’allais devoir en commander un autre exemplaire.

Puis, à mon club de sport, juste avant d’aller dîner, j’ai ouvert mon sac à dos et tous les deux livres étaient là !

Au restaurant, je me suis rendu compte que – était-ce au club de sport ou à la maison ? – j’avais oublié mes lunettes.

Español

La magia de la vejez

Busqué en mis estanterías dos libros de poesía que quería llevarme a la cena. Encontré uno rápidamente y lo metí en mi mochila. Pero el otro, ¡que era mi libro de poesía favorito!… Lo busqué y busqué y busqué otra vez, pero no lo encontré. Pensé que tendría que pedir otro ejemplar.

Entonces, en el gimnasio, justo antes de ir a cenar, abrí la mochila y ¡ahí estaban los dos libros!

En el restaurante me di cuenta -¿fue en el gimnasio o en casa?- de que había olvidado mis gafas.

En el restaurante me di cuenta de que había olvidado mis gafas.

Two of the poems encountered

Mine—by the Right of the White Election!
By Emily Dickinson (facsimile of original text at right)

Mine – by the Right of the White Election!

Mine – by the Royal Seal!

Mine – by the Sign in the Scarlet prison –

Bars – cannot conceal!

Mine – here – in Vision – and in Veto!

Mine – by the Grave’s Repeal –

Tilted – Confirmed –
Delirious Charter!

Mine – long as Ages steal!

Tenuous and Precarious
By Stevie Smith

Tenuous and Precarious

Were my guardians,

Precarious and Tenuous,

Two Romans.

My father was Hazardous,

Hazardous

Dear old man,

Three Romans.

There was my brother Spurious,

Spurious Posthumous,

Spurious was Spurious,

Was four Romans.

My husband was Perfidious,

He was Perfidious

Five Romans.

Surreptitious, our son,

Was Surreptitious,

He was six Romans.

Our cat Tedious

Still lives,

Count not Tedious

Yet.

My name is Finis,

Finis, Finis,

I am Finis,

Six, five, four, three, two,

One Roman,

Finis.

a bit of light, then not-so-light, verse (by William Eaton)

Spring came early

Spring came early to Paris this year,

In fact it was December.

And where I stowed my winter coat,

It would seem I can’t remember.

But the birds making love,

And the nests that they built,

Indeed they were a splendor.

And how the children raced,

And their cries of delight –

The teachers could only surrender.

And the older people who would later die

When the summer boiled over –

May they have enjoyed going shirtless too

When spring came in December.

— The magic/magie/magia texts, as well as the bit of light, then not so light, verse, and the two photographs are all by William Eaton.

Deck your halls with boughs of holly, or, say, give someone a copy of Eaton’s 2024 collection of poetry and prose: 4 billion eggs.