Best Francs Poems


Premium Member If I Would Have

If I had been a governess, I would have been paid.
Maybe a pittance, maybe a penny, maybe in francs or yen. 
Who knows?

If I had been a race car driver, I would have been revered
By my pit crew, I would have made them laugh as I left
The others in the dust, as I lapped around, refusing to
Wear my helmet. Varoom! Varoom!

If I had been a princess, I would have been bored, talking
Politely, wearing gloves to tea, learning dreary protocols,
My life not my own, a slave really.
Let me out of here!

But if I had been a pirate, I would have been daring and
Dashing.  My crew would have adored me.  They would have
Been terrified of my terribleness.  I missed my chance.
Dang it!

Joan of Arc

Joan was a girl who has the appearance of a boy.  She was born in Domrecy of France into the peasant family of Jacques
d' Arc and Isabelle. She lived her life as a saint and saw a vision
to drive out the English who are gradually taking over the France territory and to get Charles the rightful owner of the throne be crowned.

However, she was an uneducated plebeian who lived her life with
dignity and honor. She declared her vision to Charles
but did not gain
his trust.  She joined the army and became their
leader due to her
bravery and successes during her missions. She was ingenious and skillful despite, she never laid hands to kill yet her
vision was fulfilled; through this she got the king's trust.

Upon a campaign was sent by the king she was
captured by the Burgundian Faction who was allied with the English.
However, whilenegotiation of Burgundian with the English she made attempts to
escape, one of which she jumped from a high tower but her efforts was futile.

The King could not rescue her because he was bewildered and did not had enough trust in her. Joan was turned over to England at the cost of 10,000 francs. She was announced as heretic and
died a shameful death It lodged like stone within French army's heart
and her people but there was nothing they can do.

Some years after her case was raised by the king, they did thorough
investigation. She was finally declared as a saint and martyr. She was
embraced with love as infant within and outside her country including
the English countries and her roles in France can
never be forgotten.


17/9/2015
For contest Joan of Arc

Note: She was born in 1412 and died on May 30, 1431
She died at the age of eighteen approximately
nineteen years. She was
also known as "The Maid of Orleans"

The Economy

There once was an economist who claimed
Deregulation wasn’t to blame
For the failure of banks
Loss of middle class ranks
‘Til unemployment had to pay him in francs


Love Wins

There once was a branding woman that worked on a ranch
She ran through woods looking behind every branch
Frantic to find a tolerant male to arrange wedding plans
Her methods guaranteed producing orangutang comedians
Also, her cranky, exuberant life made the ranchers blanch

Grandmother arranged a meeting to hear Francine's rants
Knowing Granddaughter's strange ways warranted determents
Temperance must transcend the errant flagrant desires
As firebrands marked her ignorance with intolerant stares
Piranha guilt sprang up for ransom, pondering the real tyrants

The assurance of wrangling from parents with adulterant ways
Francine, and Frank, alone on the veranda during their days
Siblings needing the furtherance of love and instruction
Suffered the hindrance of rancid marital destruction
Random attention translated strangely, creating two castaways

The children, under the guidance of the grandest of grandparents
In arranged tranquil surroundings, estranged from things of ambivalence
Grown from a cankerous start into the fragrant innocence of youth
But for the lack of francs, school in France could deal better, in truth
The appearance of courtship years made the need for etiquette transparent

The end of the tale transports us two years forward
With genteel manners granting old wisdom its reward
Frank now owns the ranch where the ranchers work
And Francine branded by a marriage proposal from a local Grange clerk

Germinal: the Revolt At Le Voreux Mine

Their  portraits hanging firmly
from the naked wall, all our goods
pawned for the cause.
To see our vision and strike through
Our lively evenings and peaceful nights
conquered by a full moon and hunger pains.
The speak easy is dead from receiving our
wages in small francs, our children weak and frail
There's barely bread and meat to last the week.
Again, we look throughout our empty home before
a dying fire, at last we look up at the remaining decorations.
A print of the King and Queen steering down at us, he says
"pawn them too", we couldn't get a penny out those useless folks
Yet, they are watching us perish.

The Die Is Cast

THE DIE IS CAST
“I See,” said a blind man to his deaf Spouse, emphatically
I hear the S-rhetoric She replied Sarcastically
The symptoms and signs of Stagnation 
The Syndrome of intermittent Systems and Structures
Signing and later whining or wining
Structural adjustment and subsidies
The insatiable appetite for Sausages and Swine
Speculation and Smart Partnerships Scenarios
Synergies, Song of Science, Strategies, Solutions all Send Shivers down my Spine
Stock exchange and Streamlining  just Sentimental
What with Solo driving, Sole proprietorship of Strings of businesses
As the faith of the Servicemen wavers, the Sales are reportedly Staggering
A Slump they call it but there’s Something Sinister
Swing into action to Subjugate these Saboteurs? 
My Spirit faints But rejoice oh my Soul
Share the Spoil of the Wicked, Shillings and Swiss Francs or $ollars
If they call this Scathing, what is Stealing?
Smelling, a Stench!
Servant leaders, Surge forward to foil this Sunlight melancholy
For a calm Sea never made a good Swimmer
Study the Science of the Soil and the oil
When funds are Squandered
Guillotine the Small witty cashiers, the sardines
A Sacrifice of sorts, Scape goating and Summary Sentencing
“Where are the big bully Signatories, the Sharks”, a Senior Citizen asks?
Scot free, in Singapore in another Symposium
And who will Sub-due the enemy? Where are the species of valour, women of virtue?
Behold the Son of David, Save us!
Saviour, open your eyes and See, take our Prayer Seriously
With You on our Side we can Salvage the Situation and Scale walls


Premium Member April's Torment - the Villanelle of the April Fool

 April's Torment - The Villanelle Of The April Fool

April couldn't stop thinking about the April Fool
It was just so april fish and pranks
Never had she known anything so dual

That morning, April was shocked by the fuel
She found herself feeling rather march manx
April couldn't stop thinking about the April Fool
Marcus

Later, April was spooked by a stool
She tried to focus on those shanks
Never had she known anything so cruel

Marcus tried to distract her with a tool
Said it was time to start thinking about francs
April couldn't stop thinking about the April Fool

April took action like a mule
The April Fool was like a toxic clanks
Never had she known anything so dual

April nosedived like a gullible person, ghoul
Her mind turned to the banks
Went to withdrawn some money
The teller told April guess what you don’t have any..April Fool!!
Never had she known anything so cruel 


4/1/19
Written by James Edward Lee Sr. 2019©

Premium Member Eff Ku

Frankly, Frank felt foolish forking fourteen francs for frozen frankfurters.
© Jeff Kyser  Create an image from this poem.

Premium Member Swiss Miss

You are something to behold as I hold you in my hand.
Made of quality gold, you come from Switzerland.
With a value of twenty francs, you are quite in demand.
To have you, I give thanks. That's something anyone can understand.
With mountains in the back, I admire your hair in braids.
Beauty is something you don't lack.  You are fair among maids.
Give you up?  I hope never.  You have my undying affection.
I will keep you forever in my coin collection.

Daguerre's Lunch

Louis came to the café around one,
set his wooden boxes beside a table 
and looked at the chalk board menu as 
he felt through his pants for money

He decided he could afford a 
baguette, a small slice of 
Brie de Meaux, and a pear 

He told the waiter his order
and began to expose the copper plate
of the menu sitting on the next table

The waiter returned with lunch and 
said "quatre francs s'il vous plaît" as
Louis dug his pants and handed payment

Then Louis began to eat while
time took in, the cost of capturing 
the world in a whole new way

Popping the last of the Brie to mouth
he closed the aperture, put on his bowler
and said "bon monsieur l'après-midi" 
and walked down the afternoon avenue

© Goode Guy 2013-11-18

ekphrastic for 2013-11-24 at 
the Charles Taylor Art Museum of 
"Pinhole Paris II: Café"
pinhole photograph by Cece Wheeler

Louis Daguerre, born just outside of Paris, France (1789-11-18)
© Goode Guy  Create an image from this poem.

An Ode To 150cefa 'Francs'

**********************************************




Bonsoir 
He had greeted the trader, for it was evening.
An unusual day it was, the sun still smiling
And shedding light on dark mother earth.

At 37 minutes après l'heure de 7.
In the market place 
Et les hommes et les femmes ont chanté la chanson 150cefa; even if I starve, I am happy. 
Merci Dieu, for you are a benevolent God. 
Oh my beloved 150cefa,
My children will eat today. 

'A fisherman's gain a day is 150cefa'
Dit papa Beolice, I am happy.
It's a blessing from the benevolent Dieu.
Oh my beloved 150cefa,
My family will smile Today and my boat
Shall set sail again tomorrow.

A beggar sings out of respect, the 150cefa Song
A song sung by old beggars on the Streets of
Dakar, During the reign of 
France En afrique de l'ouest;
'Today is a good day. 
Oh Merci Dieu,for a 150cefa day, is rare.
I am content.

Helo monsieur,
Est-ce que tout va bien? vous semblez être perdu.
Well here you go, she hands him a blue Cellophane,
Votre argent est de 150cefa.
I am fine, he tells the trader,
A man is reluctant to part ways with his beloved 150cefa.
But he has to eat to stay alive. 

On his way home, 
He will hum the 150cefa song;
'Mon 150cefa appartient à la femme du Marché Maintenant,
Thank You Dieu. 
Today I will eat my fill and let tomorrow
Take care of itself.'





Godwin Henry Osaigbovo Pa Shakespeare

Premium Member A Pound of Friendship

Pounds, Dollars, Rupees, Yen
     Time to stop this if we can
Impossible, I know but still
     When money rules, it’s all downhill

Euros, Pesos, Shekels, Krone 
     What the evidence has shown
Happiness does not equal wealth
              Dividends do not foster health

Francs, Rubles, Riyals, Rand
     How much more now can we stand
The quest for riches overtakes
               Killers, liars, cheats, it makes

Love, kindness, fancy free
     That’s the currency for me
A pound of friendship, worth its weight
     There’s no cost to aggregate

Premium Member Swiss Miss

Everybody has heard the old cliché.
It stubbornly persists right up to today.
It is said all that glitters is gold.
This is a lovely little piece to hold.
A girl with braided hair is what I have found.
There are some very tall mountains in the background.
A value of twenty francs has been placed on this.
I have in my hand a lovely “Swiss Miss“.
Since the recent market price of gold’s escalation,
you are worthy of a much higher valuation.

Le Collier

Lost was poor Mathilde, caught between two worlds.
Everything she possessed was inadequate, not even a gown that cost 400 francs

Could satisfy her endless greediness.
Only a necklace that she borrowed from a wealthy friend, only a necklace of
Lust and dear jewels pleased her. Mathilde thought she was forever happy, and
Lost was the necklace after the dance was over.
In return, poor foolish Mathilde spent 10 years returning its cost until she found..
Everything was gone in vain, and the necklace was as fake as she !
Remember my friend, even the most expensive things, will never make you truly 
happy..

Premium Member Napolians

na·po·le·on   

na·po·le·on [n? p?lee ?n, n? p?ly?n]
(plural na·po·le·ons) 
n 
1.  food flaky pastry: a rectangular flaky pastry shape filled with custard cream  
2.  money old French coin: a gold coin formerly used in France, equivalent to 20 
francs  
3.  card games Full form of nap3 


[Early 19th century. Named for Napoleon I ; because the coin was issued in his 
reign.]
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2004 Microsoft Corporation. All 
rights reserved.


This is a rich and flavorful pastry.
Connoisseurs from all over find them tasty.
However, here is the situation:
Most people around here have an education.

Perhaps that is why these pastries are not selling.
Educated persons can see your bad spelling.
Do I have to tell you over and over again?
It is not spelled N-A-P-O-L-I-A-N.

One thing can be determined.  It is easy to see.
You do not need intelligence to work in a bakery.

Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace