The Cathedral (Notre Dame)

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: LIFE SONGS

The Cathedral

 

She rises from the ashes

All our hearts must overflow

The tears we shed in sorrow

In pure joy we now let go

 

A monument to human grace

At the core of western civilization

A tribute to artistic achievement

At the heart of the French nation

 

She stands now for our resilience

The stubborn loyalty of our race

We refuse to yield to memories

The sacred beauty of this place

 

Notre Dame stands once again

Where she will stand for all time

Beyond the glory of mortal men

Beyond the beauty of all rhyme

 

She is the ultimate of our being

She is the heartbeat of our song

We hear her dancing and singing

And we must dance and sing along

 

(Re: Jean-Louis Georgelin 1948 – 2023)

 

Paris Olympics

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: LIFE SONGS

Paris Olympics

 

The heart of the western world is Paris

It cannot be denied

The greatness of London and Berlin

Is known far and wide

Amsterdam and Prague

Have many on their side

But that Paris is the very heart

Cannot be denied

 

The host of the Olympics

As gracious as can be

The majesty of the Eiffel Tower

The wealth of Champs Elysees

The Palace of the Invalids

The glory of the Seine

The pyramid of the Louvre

The famed Musee d’Orsay

There is no place like Paris

On this or any day

 

The Olympics brings its grandeur

Paris gives its charm

Combined it is a spectacle

The most glorious of stars

To win the gold in Paris

The silver or the bronze

Would bring a rare panache

Perhaps a poem or a song

 

Losing France

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: WORLD DEMOCRACY

Losing France

 

Losing France to Marine Le Pen

Is like losing a dearest friend

France is the heart of Europe

This wound may never mend

 

The fascist crowd will celebrate

The Vlad will raise a glass

A victory for war and hate

The flags are at half mast

 

Liberty is on the wane

Paris is in mourning

Fear and loathing rise again

To all this is a warning

 

They say there is another chance

There will be another round

A rising of the soul of France

A chance to hear that sound

 

Of people singing everywhere

That song of patriot’s pride

A song of freedom if you dare

Let us hear it far and wide

 

The Golden Rooster

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: LIFE SONGS

The Golden Rooster

 

She rises above the Paris skyline

Gazing off into an endless plain

The seed of western civilization

The heart of artistic reign

The golden rooster stands again

 

We do not worship her demeanor

Her golden sphere we do not praise

We look to her for strength and courage

We praise her for her boundless gaze

 

She is the golden rooster of France

An eternal symbol of resurgence

When she rises all will dance

And all of France will be emergent

 

I remember when my heart was whole

The day before the spire fell

I remember all the people crying

The endless chiming of the bells

They thought the golden rooster lost

Never would our dreams be well

Our footing on the earth was tossed

All our heavens turned to hell

 

But she is risen once again

The spirit of the world revived

Buried in the ash of men

The grand lady is still alive