23.07.2009 Cric-Crac, Flic-Flac Poem by Margaret Alice

Safely ensconced in the office, working on
map-making in an African country, already
bored, marching through the day; listening to
‘Les Contes d'Hoffmann’ recorded by Nici, not
sure I can concentrate with all this happening
in my ears; clic-clac, cric-crac the tenor shouts
flic-flac everyone joins him, can I translate with
cric-crac and flic-flac filling my head?

Edita Gruberova singing ‘Les Oiseaux Dans La
Charmille’ (Doll's Song) , I’ve lost it completely
cannot translate with heavenly music delighting
my heart, triangles and bells, violins and flutes,
a harp, a beautiful voice… Barcarolle brings back
old memories, fairies dancing in a circle, little
girls of seven years holding hands, weaving in
and out, fairy glitter all around them…

20 July 2009