Paris Atelier
she hesitated for a moment
confronting the carving stand rasps files scrapers
at her disposal mallet in hand a blink of tears
cornucopia of urgency setting in
caressing the bare porous soapstone
chisel poised for striking
hiccup of light galaxy of creativity
perhaps this is the one chosen for bronzing

A Fine Kettle of Bouillabaisse
reason god invented fish
fish monger fish stew
divine seduction conger eel weaver fish
anglerfish sea hen soup fish scorpion fish
least saleable kept aside
homeward bound to Marseille
for the fishermen’s supper ragout soupe d’or

Garlic
(Ail)
garlic’s supposed ability neutralizing snake insect venom
leprosy asthma whooping cough cholera
stomach cancer strokes cardiovascular disease
aromatic juice for soups sauces salads
fish meat pasta vegetables bread
antiseptic disinfectant inhibitor
rich in vitamins B and C
the stinking rose a gastronomic emergency tool

La Resistance

dark chapel confessional box

Parish Priest listening as silence deepens

crosshatched kneeling doorway of suspicion

small town red-tiled roofed village

trellised gardens bordered by a placid sea

knurled shrunken wrinkled figure

repents his atrocities of long ago

silence would be the safe side

but not a cleansing closing of his darkest fears