In Paris with You -- James Fenton

Guest poem sent in by ochemma

(Poem #1142) In Paris with You Don’t talk to me of love. I’ve had an earful And I get tearful when I’ve downed a drink or two. I’m one of your talking wounded. I’m a hostage. I’m maroonded. But I’m in Paris with you. Yes, I’m angry at the way I’ve been bamboozled And resentful at the mess that I’ve been through. I admit I’m on the rebound And I don’t care where are we bound. I’m in Paris with you. Do you mind if we do not go to the Louvre, If we say sod off to sodding Notre Dame If we skip the champs Elysees And remain here in this sleazy Old hotel room Doing this or that To what and whom Learning who you are, Learning what I am. Don’t talk to me of love. Let’s talk of Paris, The little bit of Paris in our view. There’s that crack across the ceiling And the hotel walls are peeling And I’m in Paris with you. Don’t talk to me of love. Let’s talk of Paris. I’m in Paris with the slightest thing you do. I’m in Paris with your eyes, your mouth, I’m in Paris with…..all points south. Am I embarrassing you? I’m in Paris with you. -- James Fenton

           (1993)

This is one of my recent discoveries by James Fenton, currently holding the
Auden chair at Oxford. A poem about Love which rejects sentimentality and
yet, in its simplicity, manages to convey it all the more. I particularly
love the last verse which substitutes ‘Paris’ for love whilst ‘loving’ love
all the while. Fenton’s gentle and light hearted touch sings a sensual and
loving poem.

Marina Furniss-Roe

Links:

  Here's a biography of Fenton:
    http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/litlinks/poetry/fenton.htm

  An excerpt from his book 'Slave to the Rhythm', on the uses of rhyme:
    [broken link] http://books.guardian.co.uk/fentonserial/story/0,12098,819318,00.html