All photographs by Damien B. Donnelly
France
BOOKENDS; WORDLESS WEDNESDAY, PARIS, EYES OF A TOURIST
All photographs by Damien B Donnelly
IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN KING
Sun shines in the valley
where the sun king came to stay,
shade is shy in the valley
at the king and queen’s hideaway.
Shadows slip through the valley
down from stars to under stairs,
some secrets slip through the valley
whispered from lips of concrete heirs.
Sun shines in the valley
on swans now savage at swim,
the sun shines in the valley
though the peasants weren’t allowed in.
Shadows sneak through the valley
through the greed gathered within,
shadow is splitting the valley
like guillotines cutting through skin.
Sun shines in the valley
as gold from the fountains flow,
the sun shines in the valley
where follies fade and legends grow.
Shadows sleep in the valley
along paths where tourists thread,
shadows are stuck in the valley
like dust on ideals long dead.
Sun shines in the valley
as Apollo rides the waves,
the sun shines in the valley
and drowns the suggestion of slaves.
Shadows stretch through the valley
pressed into promises made,
shadow is song in the valley
on benches where kisses once laid.
Sun shines in the valley
in the Sun King’s palace of pride,
the sun shines in the valley
where they often came just to hide.
All words and photographs by Damien B Donnelly
Reposting this for 14 juillet (Bastille Day, French National Holiday)
I took a break recently to deal with some life challenges, health issues, panic attacks and to edit my novel (after receiving an extremely positive critique from an interested publisher) and then ended up getting distracted by planning to move country at the end of the year so have not been around for a while ( I am sorry to have been away for so long and also sorry to have missed your blogs, I will be playing catch-up over the coming weeks after a trip to Ireland) but I am still here, and will be back…
In the meantime I am re-blogging a few older poems.
Hugs and good thoughts to you all, DamiX
WORDLESS WEDNESDAY; NOTRE DAME
All photographs by Damien B. Donnelly
FRAMING FRANCE; STRASBOURG
–
Last weekend, possibly the final weekend of glorious sunshine for another year, we went to Strasbourg, the final birthday celebration, a city that is fully French, was once German for almost 50 years and is now filled with pretzels, flammenkueche, and all around adorability…
And good cocktails! What? I’m Irish!!!
Seriously, I wanted to eat everywhere! And tried!
On your bike! No cars in the city centre after 11am, Joy!!!
This is an actual school, lycée! It must be for wizards!!
Saint Paul’s Reformed Church, one of the many churches along our boat tour
European Parliament 
Flammenkueche, Pizza Alsace style
Petite France area of Strasbourg, Can you imagine this with the Christmas market in full sway!!!!
We had the best sauerkraut with fish here! (Choucroute de la mer). Not from the troff!!!
Shadows within the Museum of Modern Art and below an art installation outside by Brooklyn based artistic collaboration FAILE
A moving Spider at the museum of modern Art, in top hat too!
And a goodbye from the glass modernity of Central Station
All photographs by Damien B. Donnelly
ESCAPE TO THE SOUTH, FRAMING FRANCE
A weekend in Marseille, Frioul, Cassis and the hills and beaches of Calanque…
Frioul Archipelago
Marseille seen from the Frioul and the island of If, from The Count of Monte Cristo
Vieux Port, Marseille
Calanque
View from the restaurant in Calanque
Calanque de Sugiton
Backstreet of charm in Cassis
Pastis before brunch
All photographs by Damien B. Donnelly
BLACK AND WHITE; SHADES OF PARIS
THE CITY OF LIGHT AND SHADE…
All photographs by Damien B. Donnelly
ESCAPING THE CITY; SEA, SAND AND SUNSETS IN SAINT MALO AND LE MONT SAINT MICHEL, BRETAGNE, FRANCE
Weekend break from the Parisian heat in Bretagne, France…
By the Breakers at Saint Malo
Patterns on la plage (the beach)
Sunset over the former pirate seas of Saint Malo
Big Bear at Le Grand Hotel des Thermes, Saint Malo
The Seagull sweep
Striking a pose
Le Mont Saint Michel
Tide’s out
Sunset beneath Le Mont Saint Michel
Within the Abbey at Le Mont Saint Michel
All photography by Damien B. Donnelly
IN THE SHADOW OF THE SUN
Day 8: National Poetry Writing Month #NaPoWriMo
Sun shines in the valley
where the sun king came to stay,
shade is shy in the valley
at the king and queen’s hideaway.
Shadows slip through the valley
down from stars to under stairs,
some secrets slip through the valley
whispered from lips of concrete heirs.
Sun shines in the valley
on swans now savage at swim,
the sun shines in the valley
though the peasants weren’t allowed in.
Shadows sneak through the valley
through the greed gathered within,
shadow is splitting the valley
like guillotines cutting through skin.
Sun shines in the valley
as gold from the fountains flow,
the sun shines in the valley
where follies fade and legends grow.
Shadows sleep in the valley
along paths where tourists thread,
shadows are stuck in the valley
like dust on ideals long dead.
Sun shines in the valley
as Apollo rides the waves,
the sun shines in the valley
and drowns the suggestion of slaves.
Shadows stretch through the valley
pressed into promises made,
shadow is song in the valley
on benches where kisses once laid.
Sun shines in the valley
in the sun king’s palace of pride,
the sun shines in the valley
where they often just came to hide.
All Words and Photographs by Damien B. Donnelly
Photographs taken on Sunday 2nd April at Chateau de Versailles, Paris, in the sun.
FERTILE FIELDS
Around me, like a blanket,
nature wraps its scent
of bush and bark,
of fertile soil,
as if I am the tree
and comfort comes
from fragile foliage
folding into colours
that glisten like gold
over crisp blades
of cut grass
that feel like velvet
beneath my feet
and I thread softly
and I move carefully
like the compassionate clouds overhead.
Before me with roots
deeper than time
a tree stands tall
entangled with memories
with madness,
with a sadness
that cannot be buried,
that cannot be wrapped
in a blanket.
We plant our past in fertile fields
and water them with our tears
in the hope for a brighter future.
This field, in Parc de Sceaux, in a southern suburb of Paris, is the site of the Mémorial de la Shoah, a memorial to the deportation of the Jewish during World War II.
All words and Photographs by Damien B. Donnelly
Audio version available on SoundCloud:
Damien B. Donnelly 