Best Geneva Poems
"Fragments and crumbs of life,
all the little pieces"
John Ruskin 1853
Having lived with our Mom in Sydney for six months
Federal Police returned us to live with our father
He had begun working as the art teacher
at a small Christian school in Tasmania
He and other staff members lived at the school.
I was 8, my sister 6. Geneva was experimental then.
Elementary students were taught together in one hall.
Desks divided from next, talk was completely disallowed.
An American curriculum called ACE was adhered to.
As the art teacher's daughter, naturally I washed all the brushes.
Three utterances compiled in class per day earned detention.
Despite it being 1991, rulers whapped knuckles on occasion.
Cherished butterfly catching buddy, best friend, Penny
Fed apples from ample pile to fence wire necked horses
Dawn saluting dairy sold milk for locals, chapel on site
Peers lived a wall away, an idyllic community lifestyle
Generally, three afternoons per week, my father took
My sister on playground, shopping outings.
I stayed home. Instructed not to go outside.
Staff's children grassy antics gazed at through glass.
I ate vitamin c tablets by the dozen, and scrapings of butter.
A staff member bought all our groceries from a limited list.
I sang for company. There was no radio or TV.
My Dad and sister returned at nightfall. Chewing on sweets.
Alone in the house, I imaged it was a cruising ocean vessel
I sailed down the dim driveway, swamped by giant pines
I took apples, a cow, a Bible, pencils for sketching horses
Sailing on jaunty sun hugged foliage, I was captain
'Geneva Has Evolved'
Constance La France
All The Little Pieces Contest
25th August 2020
Categories:
geneva, 3rd grade, child, dad,
Form:
Bio
A teenage girl, a bit of a flirt.
Lying on a beach blanket,
Yes, that one~ right over there!
Can you see that bubbling brunette?
Lays back down in her two piece,tartan,
bathing suit.
White-heart shaped glasses cover her eyes.
She rubs sun lotion on her dancer's thighs.
He cannot see her watching his physique ...
his gold, skin glistening, muscular and tweaked.
Only to the sound of far-off, roaring speed boats,
does he listen.
That summer day, so very long ago.
From which her heart....never took a furlough!
7/2/2021
Categories:
geneva, beach, crush, imagery, memory,
Form:
Verse
There was once a middle aged man from Geneva
Who everyone around, called Benny the weaver,
He preferred living in England,
As it was closer to Finland,
His girlfriend lived there, she was a dreamer.
Forgot her address never much of an achiever
Ended up in Sweden, got sick had a fever,
Collapsed in the street, an ambulance came,
The next day was better but forgot his name,
The Doctor sat with him, astute and very clever!
You Mr….the patient shrugged, have a bad heart,
I suspected this from the absolute start,
And unfortunately you have Alzheimer’s disease,
Do you know where you are, who you are please
But Benny forgot, had nothing to share or impart!
Benny opened his mouth for the first time,
Doctor he said I forget more and more its sublime,
Now I heard what you had to tell me today
I have a bad heart, but I forgot , what else did you say
What a shame, Alzheimer’s, and still in your prime!
Categories:
geneva, heart,
Form:
if you've been around the block then you've been around the world.
I've found out that the only way I could relive my life was through the eyes
of my little girl.
the feeling of being loved for who you are without giving nothing in return,
innocence is a gift wrapped in perils ,for every mistake she made was a lesson that I learned .
for ever tear she cry's is a touch closer to life ,to embrace your feelings sometimes reminds me how amazing it is just to be alive...
when I see her cry .
when I close my eyes the life I see while looking out of her eyes.
every face I see tends to smile at me ,they show me off like a gift of honor
these biological guardians that they call a mother and father.
and I have both so I always hold one hand of each just to keep them close.
my super heroes. a mommy that can lift five times her body weight if she needs to get through to me.
and a daddy that said if he had the strength to move mountains ,he'd give me any and everything.
they hold me in their arms and pinch and kiss me on my cheeks.
my daddy said a life time can last as long as you want it to because when he's dead and gone he can always live through me.
Categories:
geneva, child, daughter, dedication, family,
Form:
Imagism
Wall
of
reform,
carved in stone-
four statues...just men !
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/switzerland/geneva-reformation-monument.htm
Categories:
geneva, people
Form:
Ekphrasis
It was over twenty years ago
on holiday in lovely Switzerland
living at Vevey along Lake Lemon
one day sailed into the city so grand
Sailing into the majestic Geneva
the mighty water fountain confronts you
a prelude to the magnificence supreme
indeed a Swiss crown one so few
A visit was made to the wall
the great reformation mark so grand
there stand Farel, Calvin, Beza and Knox
men of godliness to righteous stand
This visit made my day so great
to stand next to heroes in stone
who once stood true for God
now with them stand alone
(My favourite city is in Switzerland, Geneva no less! )
Categories:
geneva, city, holiday, memory,
Form:
Rhyme
This is an interesting subject matter
so many things come into your mind
having been to Geneva while on holiday
such a beautiful; city was I to find
Geneva was the centre of the reformation
way back in the 1550s that was the time
when God by His spirit was at work
people were being changed, all did rhyme
God's chosen instrument preached His truth
in power and persuasion for everyone's good
that instrument John Calvin, I wished to hear
living there then wish been there just stood
What a treat every day just to hear
in these days preaching came every day
a sheer joy fills full my heart
would just in Geneva want to stay
The 1550s would be really so different
no pc, medicine, fridge, or water supply
but evidence of God changing lives
amazing indeed, to be there before I'd die
(My favourite period of history would be the time of the reformation in the 1550s and being in Geneva in the beautiful land of Switzerland. I would wish to have lived then, really amazing to have been there in that great city of culture in Geneva.)
Categories:
geneva, christian, history, imagination,
Form:
Rhyme
Lake Léman must float
the weight of the city –
Its grey stolid affluence
needs hydraulic help.
Our paddle steamer chuffs
beyond the tall fountain.
For a while, grand houses
bob beside us.
In Geneva the poor must fit between
the opulence.
Up ahead, Mont Blanc,
and other Wagnerian massifs,
begin to shrink us into fisheyes.
Then sunlight spills its sky
into the deep waters.
Suddenly we are afloat on mountaintops!
I could be almost happy here
if we were not just renting this moment.
When we return to the city
the sky will be gray once more,
the poor will still be poor.
Outside the stylish patisseries,
sparrows will still fight for crumbs.
Categories:
geneva, poetry,
Form:
Free verse
I sat in restless chairs
I breathed stilted air
what feeling compares
with feeling squandered?
I’m not sadfishing,
I was bored in a 5-star hotel.
I’d swum the Atlantic - in the underground pool
and I felt like I was marinating in boredom.
It was as if the loudest thing in our suite was
the sound of my eyelashes flapping up and down.
I wasn’t in solitary confinement,
Lisa was there too - and just-as bored.
She didn’t complain, 'cause she’s ‘New Yorker’ stoic.
So I started complaining for her - for the team.
We’d filtered every boutique,
sampled every eclectic café,
there’s just nothing to do in Geneva.
It is an implacable reality.
Peter (my bf) was at work all day and we were on vacation.
It’s different when he’s around.
He walks into the room, and I feel like
a phone that’s been placed on its charger
- the world lights up and I get - charged.
“We should make a list,” I'd announced, “‘the pros and cons of boredom.”
“No,” Lisa said, “Let’s name fun things.”
“Fruity Pebbles popcorn,” I started.
“Girl panda makeup” Lisa offered,
“Foot massages and bubblegum”
“Cotton candy and sunflowers”
“Holidays and sparkly things!”
- we went on and on and on and -
“kittens” I updogged dreamily, then I switched subjects completely.
“We need to go to Paris.” I announced, with a tone of relief.
“Oh yeah?” Lisa asked, with a little side head-bob.
“Actionable intel,” I whispered, “Grandmère wants to see me.”
Lisa gasped, adding, “You’re in TROUBLE,” drawing the last syllable out slowly.
“That would be a first,” I laughed.
“Kisses!” She exclaimed, resuming the game.
I remembered the first time I thought of kissing Peter. The thought was a flash, an emotional Rorschach test and I smiled. It was like a movie kiss, an abstract heaven - not the breathy, erotic kisses of real life.
“Where’d you go?” Lisa asked, grinning.
Some emotions are too thick for words.
.
.
Songs for this:
Good Luck, Babe! by Chappell Roan
Disco Boots by Gavin Turek
Categories:
geneva, boyfriend, conflict, endurance, paris,
Form:
Free verse
Some responsible humans, are beating a path to
A nondescript country' may they focus real heat.!
On the coldness we know of' how much more hides away?
Is there love in that nation; maybe those native will say.?
I would they will come out in welcome? flowers to place.'
Before these good spirited visitors, who care; all's not to waste
Are there good Swiss folk? Who'll succour? Believing no lie'
People who'll accept other humans.' Maybe they'll stand up?
In their thousands, to reject evil plans.' Linking arms
Sharing stories of how better things could be.?
Will they challenge any prejudgment, indeed it might be me?
Yet..No.) I am, as are those marching, ready to cheer!
Should the Swiss' prove their mettle' in a denying of fear.! Oh
May such so be.' And if God wills? there"ll be quality too there' so great!
And also much honour, we all watch to see.! A lot rests with the Swiss.'
Will they now. Rise? To find..' Good reason, and spirit'' of truth
Also liberty? Maybe just in time.!
Categories:
geneva, appreciation, freedom,
Form:
Rhyme
Something’s happening, let’s call it sunrise, for now,
and summer vacation in Geneva, in umm.. 10 hours.
My heart-beat is spiking, like a flag or kite flying.
I’m leaving an empty room - making one last pass with a broom.
I’m stuffing my bag, with the last few things, for escape on aluminum wings.
My dreams, woven in bright, butterfly tapestries, are rolled and folded -
packed between urgent fantasies and harsh, time-sensitive practicalities.
I know you’re there, a quarter-world away, good news, pegasus awaits,
to streak gulf-stream high, over choppy oceans wide with mechanical fire,
its ice-cycle crystal contrail points, like cherub cupid's arrow, toward you.
Forget pixels, tech instruments, remote lifeline connections,
and prayer-like whispers over thin, criss-crossed wires.
I’m making my move, coming compass-needle true,
to press up close, reintroduce, extemporize and seduce.
.
.
music for this:
Someday by Sugar Ray
sunburn by almost monday
This Charming Man by The Smiths
Heaven by Los Lonely Boys
Categories:
geneva, boyfriend, school, student, summer,
Form:
Rhyme