Doucement Poem by Josephine Dunn

On a summer’s day
A voice on the radio sang,
“Doucement, doucement, doucement.

I drove through the mist
On empty French roads,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

As the miles sped past
I remembered you,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

You waved from your car,
Smiled a nervous ‘Hello’,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

We sat in a café
Speaking softly in French,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

You opened your soul,
Showed me your child,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

You asked me, “what next? ”,
I could only say,
“Doucement, doucement, doucement”.

We walked side by side
In hot dusty streets,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

And after a while
We decided to eat,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

We ate & we drank
And we started to learn,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

While you dealt with your work
I walked all alone,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

In a church with two towers
Glass coloured the sun,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

Two candles I lit
And said silent prayers,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

In cold marble halls
I viewed paintings on walls,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

You found me at last
Where I lay in the grass,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

We misunderstood
But all was not lost,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

And so we embraced
With our lips coming close,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

We made love together
In late afternoon,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

You were kind, you were gentle,
It was over too soon,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

We parted as friends,
As the sun slowly set,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

Now I wonder if we
Will meet e’re again,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

I remember your kiss
And the touch of your skin,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.

You will stay in my heart,
For as long as I live,
Doucement, doucement, doucement.


2003 - revised 22nd February 2009