Copyright 2007 Jennie Gilling. All Rights Reserved
i. Normandy
The land still holds the memory
even though the surface is smooth.
Its a landscape in grids,
vast flat fields
broken by combs of poplars.
The straight lines made The Occupation easier.
Copses gave uncertain protection,
and the open spaces, fear.
Here, crouching, breath held:
the Resistance hid, succeeded.
There, run, run for your ...
the Resistance caught, made an example.
Though the canyons of trenches
are ploughed over,
the land still holds the memory.
ii. Languedoc
We drank the southern wine so easily.
Everywhere was quilted with dormant vines,
pruned old black knuckles -
the winter management
of succulent harvest.
Voila monsieur, said the Madame,
the bottles filled with liquid rubies,
grandfather on the labels.
Generations gave more
than just their skill with grapes.
At the top of the village
the traditional monument
to remember, honour,
and listed three from Madame's family.
We drank the southern wine so easily.