History Beneath Our Feet
By luigi_pagano
- 3314 reads
There are two sides to Paris,
or I should say two levels;
one is above the ground
where every tourist revels
and another one below
which is easily found
although few people know.
This subterranean kingdom
is under Rue Montmartre,
has miles and miles of tunnels
in which the sewers flow.
In fiction, Jean Valjean
waded through the slime
searching for the way out.
This labyrinth of alleys
has developed with time
and sanitation improved
beyond any doubt.
It is also a museum,
‘The Musée des Égouts’
Anyone can visit it,
not just a Parisien.
It appeals to the masses
as well as to a doyen.
It isn’t only sewers
that lie beneath Paree:
south of the city gate
one can find an ossuary.
So, as we can see,
the metropolis’s underground
is full of history.
© Luigi Pagano
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Comments
How fascinating this is. I
How fascinating this is. I ever marvel at your capacity to turn every interest into poetry, Luigi, and this is no exception.
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I love the subterranean
I love the subterranean perspective and I love your poem! You are writing about my favourite things, the hidden city.
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I enjoy your historical and
I enjoy your historical and geographical info turned into compact verse, which covers so much ground (and underground!) in a quickly read form. Congratulations on the cherries.
One of my children used to ask what's under the ground as we drove the streets and I found a nice kids' book that he loved, but that was mostly all the near surface pipes, and cables etc I think! Rhiannon
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You make history palatable
You make history palatable for me, Luigi. You've a light touch, always informative and the embedded nature of the past is cleverly conveyed.
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I have issues with mine too.
I have issues with mine too. Have to bang it to get it to work! Makes me feel panicked. Happy Sunday Luigi.
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