The Solitary Oak on Mount Kremlin-Bicêtre
by T. Wignesan
for Jean Lapresle, the “Father” of neuro-pathology in France: 1909-2000
On Bicêtre Mount a stately oak did spread its unmeshed
boughs to swarms of sparrows beating retreat
To turtle-doves and flapping pigeon-mates a frolicksome
haven
Where now on thunder-split crutches hop the mocking
magpie
Its black upturned tail uppity down high-domed arches’
smooth-shorn limbs
Desolate within chilled-threaded casements of fading
green
Sleek crows guard the sentinel post where gentle souls
tread lonesome
Once his benign fiery eye caught the tame light in lame
downcast distress
Novice and apprentis sorciers sought the shelter of his
umbrella wing
The charge-nurse at his beck and call
Under the official seal of his high personal chair
Now the lordly craftsman called to lay down his tools in
honorary quack contempt
By some aging loyal birds too meek to fly away
Too lame to avoid the headlong charge down tearing fate
Had him appear in white blouson for the nonce’s sake
No nurse to jump at the phone’s end
No student his ears peeled to every question
No professorial stamp at his command
“You know he takes no new patients…”
The voice trailing hoarse and dead
Carting rough brown bulky dossiers in his failing arms
Furtive
Distraught
A Visitor in his home
Nay A thief in his fiefdom
He stalks a room any room for a moment’s reprieve
The hand now shaky
The date a tussle with memory
Then the long unnoticed wait at the central desk
To ask for his patient the next bi-annual appointment
Patient
Like a patient
A whole life ministering to other personal needs
“When you no more have the charge of the place…”
His eyes want to plead in lieu of apology
Then abruptly the bi-annual rendez-vous is blocked
No excuse no reason is proffered
Only by chance you surmise
The frail fallen oak lies limp in some forsaken lot
T. Wignesan
Copyright ©:
(c) T. Wignesan – Paris, August 1, 2004
A few random poems:
- Владимир Бенедиктов – На море
- Валерий Брюсов – Фабричная
- French Revolution, The (excerpt) by William Blake
- The Lesson by Maya Angelou
- Epigram to Miss Ainslie in Church by Robert Burns
- Is Life Worth Living? poem – Alfred Austin
- The lords above by Michael Nikoletseas
- Who does she think she is…. by Shel Silverstein
- Savour Your Life by Ronald G. Auguste
- Sonnet 133: Beshrew that heart that makes my heart to groan by William Shakespeare
- Николай Языков – А. Н. Вульфу (Нe называй меня поэтом)
- From One Who Stays poem – Amy Lowell poems | Poems and Poetry
- Consolatorium, Ad Parentes by William Strode
- Владимир Маяковский – Вместо 2 280 товарных вагонов… (РОСТА №920)
- The Boy by Vinko Kalinić
External links
Bat’s Poetry Page – more poetry by Fledermaus
Talking Writing Monster’s Page –
Batty Writing – the bat’s idle chatter, thoughts, ideas and observations, all original, all fresh
Poems in English
- Владимир Маяковский – Себе, любимому, посвящает эти строки автор
- Владимир Маяковский – Счастье искусств
- Владимир Маяковский – С винтовкой, но без знания – нет побед (РОСТА № 115)
- Владимир Маяковский – С Польшей подписан мир… (РОСТА №428)
- Владимир Маяковский – С Польшей мир… (РОСТА №423)
- Владимир Маяковский – Ров (РОСТА №181)
- Владимир Маяковский – Россия – страна земледельческая… (РОСТА №874)
- Владимир Маяковский – Россия — единое советское хозяйство (РОСТА № 280)
- Владимир Маяковский – России
- Владимир Маяковский – Рифмованные лозунги
- Владимир Маяковский – Реклама журнала “Огонек”
- Владимир Маяковский – Реклама Резинотрест
- Владимир Маяковский – Реклама Моссукно
- Владимир Маяковский – Реклама Мосполиграф
- Владимир Маяковский – Реклама издательства “Красная новь”
- Владимир Маяковский – Реклама, 1928
- Владимир Маяковский – Разве у вас не чешутся обе лопатки
- Владимир Маяковский – Размышления у парадного подъезда
- Владимир Маяковский – Разговор с товарищем Лениным
- Владимир Маяковский – Рассказ Хренова о Кузнецкстрое и о людях Кузнецка
More external links (open in a new tab):
Doska or the Board – write anything
Search engines:
Yandex – the best search engine for searches in Russian (and the best overall image search engine, in any language, anywhere)
Qwant – the best search engine for searches in French, German as well as Romance and Germanic languages.
Ecosia – a search engine that supposedly… plants trees
Duckduckgo – the real alternative and a search engine that actually works. Without much censorship or partisan politics.
Yahoo– yes, it’s still around, amazingly, miraculously, incredibly, but now it seems to be powered by Bing.
Parallel Translations of Poetry
The Poetry Repository – an online library of poems, poetry, verse and poetic works
