History Beneath Our Feet

Cherry

By luigi_pagano

Wed, 29 Apr 2015
  • 3387 reads
9 comments
 

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

Submitted by Bee on

How fascinating this is. I ever marvel at your capacity to turn every interest into poetry, Luigi, and this is no exception.

Bee

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

I try to weave  interesting facts into my poetry in an effort to produce unusual verse. Sometimes this kind of poems does not work as I intended and doesn't get much reaction. When it does it's very rewarding.
Your support, Bee, is a great motivation in my writing. Thanks.

Luigi x

 

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

I love the subterranean perspective and I love your poem!  You are writing about my favourite things, the hidden city.

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

I share your fascination for what lies under the surface of a city, Helen. When I wrote this the catacombs of Rome came to mind, then I read a novel describing burials in the 18th Century in the cemetery of Les Innocents in Paris. This was the foundation - excuse the pun - for what you read today.

Best wishes, Luigi.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

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

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

There is much more than pipes and cables under the ground, Rhiannon. Thanks to archeology a lot of discoveries have been made, historical artifacts, mummified corpses of Pharaohs and the body of king Richard III recently unearthed. Although these events are widely known through adult publications, for children there are very instructive books such as the Ladybird history series.
I am so pleased about the latest cherries for which my grateful thanks go to the editors. My appreciation goes to you too for your unstinting support.

Luigi x

 
 

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

You make history palatable for me, Luigi. You've a light touch, always informative and the embedded nature of the past is cleverly conveyed.

 

Submitted by luigi_pagano on

I apologise for the tardy reply, Ray, my laptop is playing up. Before it crashes again, many thanks for the feedback.

Luigi x

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

I have issues with mine too. Have to bang it to get it to work! Makes me feel panicked. Happy Sunday Luigi.