Fille Jolie

FILLE JOLIE I see the tall apartments as we pass We all shudder, slowing to a halt The bus conductor turns and stares As he stops to collect more fares This stop-start ride is not his fault The Place d’Etoile packed with cars I am off to start a new school term And almost ready to face the world It’s 1960 and the times are changing Career choices soon need arranging As a young woman, not just a girl And my independence I do affirm I will stay to work in this exciting city Paris also can offer varied recreation My parents still living up in Normandy Little villages always full of bonhomie But my future is more than anticipation And Gilles said he thought me pretty The bus has almost reached Pont Neuf Now yet another day of boring lessons See the grown up people sitting here Not everyone has varied lives, I fear I just hope I’ll make good impressions Whether as an aristocrat or mere serf