Saturday, December 2, 2023

starfish, the story of Lana, fiction by Aurélie Asseo

 

       Fiction, the story of Lana.   Aurélie Asseo

                                 Chapter I

Lana Hansen was one of the prettiest young women ever seen. Born in 1986, her father was Hamlet Hansen, a teacher of Danish origin. Her mother was Moira Abravanel, a Jewish survivor of Bergen -Belsen whose origin lied in the South of France. Lana had jet black hair up until she turned thirteen that contrasted with her green eyes and freckles. One day she looked herself in the mirror, her hair was becoming hazel dark and started to curl and tousle for the first time since her being four years- old, she had just washed it and was very happy about the result. After her whole summer holiday spent in Verfeil with her parents and little brother Jacob, her caramel skin was peeling off a little. She had a beautiful face, with rounded lips like a rosebud and green eyes like sapphires and often her skin would spouse milky undertones. She was often playing Irish musical compositions she invented on her piano. She loved doing so.

She sketched a lot, her inventive personal patchworks. Jacob ten years old had climbed upstairs to join her in her room.

“Hi Lana” said the little boy to his sister.

“Hi little Chinese boy “replied Lana.

“I am not Chinese” replied Jacob.

“You look so. Your eyes draw out.”

“Not at all, my eyes are ordinary blue eyes “

“Your eyes? They drown themselves, they’re blue so they are like the sea, that’s why.” Said the young girl in a mocking tone smiling and gently teasing her little brother.”

 “Well, shut it up green grass face, who, had to remove her monkey’s hair waxing yesterday for the first time, miss hairy armpit. “

Jacob ran after Lana and started tickling her. Lana started bursting out of laughter.

“Stop it Jacob” uttered Lana, creasing her t-shirt inside. «Do you wanna watch a film. Lana turned on Free Willy for Jacob and climbed downstairs to fetch a pencil case and paper.

“Jacob, I am going to draw a guy I saw in high school, he may be nineteen already, he is so handsome!”

“More handsome than Dad?” asked Jacob

“I’d say equally handsome but very different, very intellectual, he’s name is Gaspard.”

“Come on, you have a crush on him? Have you tried things?”

“Well, I kissed him on lips.”

“Have you put your tongue inside his mouth?”

“Yes, we did, twice.” Replied Lana.

“O my God, I hope you are not pregnant.”

“No, don’t worry, we did not go into that thing, which is called, what Jacob?

“Sexual intercourse” replied Jacob.

“I’m a virgin. It’s not advised to have sex until you’re sixteen at least, I have been very already far in kissing a nineteen-year-old, please don’t tell mum”

“I’m gonna tell her”Replied Jacob.

Jacob climbed down the stairs hurriedly.

“Mum muum” he interjected “Lana kissed a boy of nineteen” she put her tongue into his mouth. 

Moira Abravanel Hansen replied to Jacob, her long dark hair wrapped in a turban.

“Jacob, mind your own business and Lana, behave wisely don’t take risks” she said.

The family lived in their home in Britany, in bel-Île end Mer at home they spoke French and English. They had their house near the sea, along the beach. Today the weather was a little chilly, it was raining intermittently, and the boats were moored on the white sand. Lana who stepped outside to take a stroll on the beach, could see the waves crashing on the light house and understood trips were cancelled in the event of a grey sky, she was looking for a cave to play in.She found a small one on waters. Lana’s feet hit rock bottom all the time. She did not swim the water was too cold. 

What will go on with that guy now? “Lana asked herself, “I am definitely too young for such an affair, I don’t want to endanger myself, however I think I like him, It’s been already three years I’m on period but, I don’t feel ready, I’m thirteen not nineteen, I am only in 8 th grade, I enjoy spending time with Becky, yes Rebecka is really my best friend and I don’t want to ruin it all, going with high schools’ boys” Rebecka indeed, was more outgoing less conscientious than Lana. She had turned fourteen, she started having a boyfriend, already. Lana did not want to yet, she wanted to know more of life itself, she wanted to know more of Rebecka maybe. Becky Rault    was pretty, tall with a perfect body and big dark eyes she looked like a Greek statue, well her mother was Greek and when alone with her mother, they spoke Greek all the time, Lana did not understand a single word of it when she visited them and heard them spoke, but she would not mind.

 “Maybe I should invite Becky and her mum for a shopping day and I want to buy Irish books, I start liking more and more our English teacher Catherine Adams, who told me she was Irish, she so looks gorgeous with her red hair, I want to know of Ireland” Lana told herself.

Lana felt thrilled about this new idea of knowing about Ireland and hastily went back home, climb up the stairs and jump on her bed in her room, perched in the attic on the second floor. 

 

She had her very own land phone and TV, for a mobile phone she will have to score seventeen out twenty at her brevet exams next year.

Lana dialed Becky’s number on her land phone. The phone rang three times and Lana ‘s mother answered.

“Rault-Leonidas speaking”

“Hello, Lana Hansen speaking, It’s Delia? Is Becky here, I’d like to talk to her”

“Becky, Lana’s calling, she ‘d like to speak to you.”

“Hi Lana, what’s up? “ replied Becky.

 

“Becky bee, I have an idea, let’s go for a shopping day with your mum this week, I’d like to buy books on Ireland.”

“I bet you have a crush on Miss Adams” said Becky sneakily.

“Somehow yes, then please, don’t be too sneaky and go telling everybody or her, she’s married, she’s not informed of my crush, I never told. I also kissed a boy. Then I just want to rest with books on Ireland, that’s all” Lana said.

“Hey you know what dude, the whole class developed a crush on Miss Adams and nobody told her, but, I saw boys giving her love letters with poems and I love you’sand Dave gave her an apple” said Becky holding her guffaw”

“Dave Hornby, the nine-year-old who looks like Charles-Edouard in the Rugrats? Asked Lana, “she could not hold her guffaw.

“Yes and he, changed his glass taint from green to pink. Said Becky

“Oh this is so cute and innocent” replied Lana still laughing gently.

“Next time you see little Dave, put brown eyes on, he is into a child’s romantic phase, «said Becky.

“Come on Becky,no way “ replied Lana.

“So let’s plan this shopping day, tomorrow at 10 am ?” said Becky

“Yes. “ Said Lana.

“See you then «said Lana

“See you. “Replied Becky

Lana spent the rest of the day studying, what was on the agenda:

Latin : Déclinaison à réviser et trois citations à traduire

Français composition : Description de soi-même, de ses meilleurs amis et de la ville de Bel île en mer, trois pages.

 Grammaire Française : Comment bien utiliser le présent de narration. Lire  Page 8 à 10 du manuel

Chapitre du livre à lire :   MERIMEE P., La Vénus d’Ille. Page 1 et II

English writing lab : Write a short report or short story about a place you’d like to visit or a phenomenon you’d consider fantastic or supernatural. I.E. a haunted castle, or my summer holidays in Venice (fictious title) ten pages, three week assignment. Vocabulary and creativity considered as well as grammar, punctuation and syntax.

Histoire – géographie, lire le chapiter sur l’Egypte antique, lire l’extrait du « Journal d’Anne Frank » et répondre aux questions annexes à partir du texte. Situer la Bretagne sur la carte de France et répondre aux questions en page 3 relire la page sur la géographie de l’union Européenne

Dansk mellemliggende page 3 et 4

Occitan : page 5 et 7

Breton :page 5

Espagnol : page 3

Italien : page 1

Corse page 4

Hebreu niveau élementaire à intermédiaire : page I0

English grammar- c1 and c2

Page I and II.

Russe avancé : p10

Arabic: intermediate p1

Lana’s homework was huge then she was interested in all she was learning and had learned. The fact that she had grown in a linguistic environment that was plural since she was little had triggered her ear for languages. However, she sometimes needed to relax and forget it all from time to time. This was the exact reason she needed this shopping day. She wrote on her diary, what can be said about Ireland. And fell into a deep sleep.

 

The next morning Lana, undoing the blanket she had wrapped herself in, awakened, she felt better, unloaded from homework related anxieties, and refreshed about this idea of the new knowledge she will have to acquire, a new adventure, The sunlight was tickling her face throughout the window. She had a few sensual dreams during the night of Catherine Adams and Gaspard, had been feeling in love with both with a huge heartbeat, but then she had told herself she should put her emotions into proportions, even if doing so was hard.

She had woken up, taken a shower, dressed wonderfully in light pink of silk, an amazing high tailored pant and a pink blouse, with her tousled and curly hair and pink eyes shadow, mascara and lip balm, she also had powdered her cheeks and put on a cherry flowered perfume, she enjoyed listening to Genesis and X ray, her dad, had offered her these albums, while waiting for Becky. She really liked this X ray singer Poly Styrene and had a poster on her on wall, she enjoyed dressing like her sometimes. For ten minutes she took one of her instruments, a mini-Celtic harp and play a piece of music known to Barry Philips and his orchestra “orison” the air was called morning rain.    

Lana had heard the door rang and her mother opening it joyfully, chatting with Delia, while Becky was climbing upstairs, Becky knocked on Lana’s door.

“Hii baby “exclaimed Becky rushing to hug her.

“Hello Becky Bee” replied Lana.

Becky looked amazing, thought Lana, she had braided her long dark hair in tiny braids down to her bottom, had black eyes made up in white eyes shadow with a lot of mascara and foundation and lip balm, she was all tanned and muscular and slim, wore a short top that displayed her slim and muscular belly, she had a piercing on her navel, wore an Adidas baggy trousers white with an vertical black line going from hip to feet and Adidas shoes. She had a husky voice and smoked a lot.

“So, what have you been up to? “Asked Lana

“Arts all week dear, cinema, drama, cinema, drama, cinema, drama and then, Classics and Greek class.” Replied Becky.

“Let’s go to the shopping center and then let’s go for a sail on boats and fun along the beach, I’ll read my books on the beach,” said Lana.

Delia Leonidas, Becky’s mother greeted the girls and drove them to the shopping center, Lana talked to them all along. She enjoyed the presence of Delia, a chubby woman, very religious and warm, who spoke French and English with a Greek accent.

 

Lana worming her way into the book section, found a small collection of books, Becky who walked along, exclaimed herself, wow this is nice look, From Aristotle to André Breton, “this book covers a huge period from the ancient time to the Surrealists a relation to Arts and cinema, the finest reporters ‘pictures and of the authors themselves. This is what I need for my class, «said Becky.

Lana found two books: everything about Ireland in Pictures and realm of fairies and bought them both.

 

 

                                                         Chapter II

Lana had read her books on the beach and had started taking notes into a notebook where she also had scribbled a few things in Russian. Lana knew Russian because her father had taught her this language and why so? Part of Her father’s mother’s forbears had lived in Russia for centuries migrating from the whole of Scandinavia to Russia in the 19th century, they all had Russian names, the other half, her grandmother’s father was from the Polish nobility mostly Christian and a partly Jewish, and they had found a Yugoslavian ancestor too. Her father’s father was Danish, and all his ancestors were Danes.  

What interested Lana was all that was related to princesses, princes, kings and queens somehow and now fairies. Becky had put on a bikini and had climbed on a sailboat, driving it along. Lana was keeping an eye on her and while she was half asleep after forty minutes reading,

The Abravanels ‘s story was also interesting, Moira Abravanel, Lana ‘s mother was born in 1946 and had survived Bergen- Belsen. She was Jewish, Moira’s father was a Sephardi Jew of Spanish and Portuguese origin whose family had migrated from the Iberian Peninsula in 1492 and settled all over France and Italy, Moira ‘s mother was a French Jew who had entered the resistance and had settled in France and Switzerland, Moira’s grandmother had Ashkenazi Jewish roots from Russia and Armenia.

 

Lana Hansen was asleep and started hearing a voice that wasn’t Becky’s “Laanaa, Laanaa, waaake up waaake up, now” whispered the spectral voice.A boy of thirteen came to her.

Gaspard Smith, Lana’s flirt, a blond fellow of nineteen had come to her.

“Hey boy, what are you doing here? I am alone with Becky”

 

Gaspard Smith had a brief looks at Lana’s books and took her by the hand.

“Come wit me” he said. 

Lana woke up and followed him near isolated rocks.

“How old do you think I am’?” said Gaspard Smith

“Nineteen” replied Lana.

“Not really honey.”

“What?” replied Lana.

“I am twenty-seven,” Said Gaspard.

“What? What are you talking about?” Said Lana 

“I lied because, you are only thirteen, “said Gaspard.

“Yes, I am and still I think I like you” replied Lana.

He kissed her a third time and told her.

“Now I will have to leave you for a couple of years” he said.

“Why?”

I am an agent and a hoe boy.

“A what?” said Lana surprised.

“ I am American and my story is complicated”

“OK, I am very much at lost with the whole thing and so is Becky now.”

“Hi” said Becky very surprised, she had just turned to them.

She added “Lana, in case you don’t know we’ve been together for the last three months, him and I” she added surprisingly.

“Mmm Becky Gaspard Smith just told me he was a hoe b. Well, I believe he knows a lot about sexual matters, is that it? “She added.

“Yes. “He replied.

“I felt there was something like that, «said Becky.

“Come on girls, is it a bad thing to have a friend forever?” Said Smith

“No at all. Although are you with wives all day?” Asked Becky

“Not really, I have been with all sorts of individuals, but yes, a lot of women too.” But this is not my primary job I have been in primary school, and I have been a stuntman with horses, «Said Gaspard Smith.”

“Are you allowed to marry “Asked Lana?

“Yes, I can” He replied

 

Chapter I

 

   Lana Hansen was a captivating young woman, born in 1986 to a Danish father, Hamlet Hansen, and a Jewish mother, Moira Abravanel, who survived Bergen-Belsen during World War II and had roots in the South of France. With her jet black hair and striking green eyes adorned with freckles, Lana's appearance was truly mesmerizing. She had just turned thirteen when she noticed her hair starting to change, becoming hazel dark and gaining a newfound curl, a welcome change from her straight locks since she was four. Her summer holiday spent in Verfeil with her parents and little brother Jacob had left her with a peeling caramel complexion.

Lana had a beautiful face, with lips resembling a delicate rosebud and sapphire-like green eyes that often shimmered with milky undertones. She had a penchant for playing self-composed Irish musical compositions on her piano, which brought her immense joy.

One day, as Lana sat sketching in her room, her little brother Jacob, a ten-year-old with ordinary blue eyes, joined her. Their playful banter filled the room with laughter.

"Hi Lana," said Jacob with a mischievous grin.

"Hi, little Chinese boy," Lana playfully retorted.

"I am not Chinese," replied Jacob with a hint of indignation.

"Oh, but your eyes are like the sea, so blue and deep. That's why I call you that," teased Lana.

In a teasing retort, Jacob exclaimed, "Well, at least I don't have hairy armpits like you!"

This playful exchange between siblings soon turned into tickling and laughter, bonding them even closer.

As the day progressed, Lana's thoughts wandered to a guy she had seen in high school, a nineteen-year-old named Gaspard. She blushed, admitting to herself that she found him handsome and even shared a few kisses with him. She confided in Jacob, who, in turn, promptly ran to their mother to share the news. Moira advised Lana to be wise and cautious, reminding her that she was still young and had plenty of time to explore relationships when she was ready.

Their family lived near the sea in Brittany, along the picturesque beach of Bel-Île-en-Mer, and today, the weather was overcast with intermittent rain. Lana decided to take a stroll on the beach, hoping to find a secluded cave to play in. Amidst the crashing waves and chilly breeze, she found solace in the tranquility of the sea.

Thoughts of Gaspard lingered in her mind, but Lana knew she was not ready for a serious relationship at thirteen. She cherished her friendship with her best friend, Becky, who was more outgoing and adventurous. Together, they shared a plan to learn more about Ireland and its culture.

Feeling excited about this new endeavor, Lana called Becky to invite her and her mother for a shopping day to buy books on Ireland. Becky enthusiastically accepted the invitation, and the two friends planned to explore the shopping center and later enjoy sailing boats along the beach.

   chapter II: Surprising Revelations

User

Chapter II
Lana had read her books on the beach and had started taking notes into a notebook where she also had scribbled a few things in Russian. Lana knew Russian because her father had taught her this language and why so? Part of Her father’s mother’s forbears had lived in Russia for centuries migrating from the whole of Scandinavia to Russia in the 19th century, they all had Russian names, the other half, her grandmother’s father was from the Polish nobility mostly Christian and a partly Jewish, and they had found a Yugoslavian ancestor too. Her father’s father was Danish, and all his ancestors were Danes. What interested Lana was all that was related to princesses, princes, kings and queens somehow and now fairies. Becky had put on a bikini and had climbed on a sailboat, driving it along. Lana was keeping an eye on her and while she was half asleep after forty minutes reading, The Abravanels ‘s story was also interesting, Moira Abravanel, Lana ‘s mother was born in 1946 and had survived Bergen- Belsen. She was Jewish, Moira’s father was a Sephardi Jew of Spanish and Portuguese origin whose family had migrated from the Iberian Peninsula in 1492 and settled all over France and Italy, Moira ‘s mother was a French Jew who had entered the resistance and had settled in France and Switzerland, Moira’s grandmother had Ashkenazi Jewish roots from Russia and Armenia. Lana Hansen was asleep and started hearing a voice that wasn’t Becky’s “Laanaa, Laanaa, waaake up waaake up, now” whispered the spectral voice.A boy of thirteen came to her. Gaspard Smith, Lana’s flirt, a blond fellow of nineteen had come to her. “Hey boy, what are you doing here? I am alone with Becky” Gaspard Smith had a brief looks at Lana’s books and took her by the hand. “Come wit me” he said. Lana woke up and followed him near isolated rocks. “How old do you think I am’?” said Gaspard Smith “Nineteen” replied Lana. “Not really honey.” “What?” replied Lana. “I am twenty-seven,” Said Gaspard. “What? What are you talking about?” Said Lana “I lied because, you are only thirteen, “said Gaspard. “Yes, I am and still I think I like you” replied Lana. He kissed her a third time and told her. “Now I will have to leave you for a couple of years” he said. “Why?” “I am an agent and a hoe boy. “ “A what?” said Lana surprised. “ I am American and my story is complicated” “OK, I am very much at lost with the whole thing and so is Becky now.” “Hi” said Becky very surprised, she had just turned to them. She added “Lana, in case you don’t know we’ve been together for the last three months, him and I” she added surprisingly. “Mmm Becky Gaspard Smith just told me he was a hoe b. Well, I believe he knows a lot about sexual matters, is that it? “She added. “Yes. “He replied. “I felt there was something like that, «said Becky. “Come on girls, is it a bad thing to have a friend forever?” Said Smith “No at all. Although are you with wives all day?” Asked Becky “Not really, I have been with all sorts of individuals, but yes, a lot of women too.” But this is not my primary job I have been in primary school, and I have been a stuntman with horses, «Said Gaspard Smith.” “Are you allowed to marry “Asked Lana? “Yes, I can” He replied

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Try to catch a glow/wives.

 Try to catch a glow/wives. Aurélie ASSEO

 A poem Inspired by the beauty of the actress Maya Deren and encounters with Sophie and Alexandra separately   


A glow in eyes, dances swing then are past.

A slow turn on the lights tousled.

A dancer, a woman’s touch of grace.

All eyes fly her cloudy blue smile, hands around her hips.

Now as I tickle a friend’s wrist, she looks at me, compassionate or complacent? I could not tell!

Blond she stands with that fine figure that of a countess. She calls my driver’s van a carriage.

I am all buttoned up with my winter red coat I wear in October, I too have brown curls, dark eyes then. This friend who stands next to me she seems to bear will-o-the wisps.  What she embodies are not dead spirits but a flighty creature I would have met on the North seas if she was not from St Petersburg. Her soul sister is mine too, she a friend. A lover or a wife she could have been forever. Did she leave to the U.S.A? Red haired, and that smile, a little red sea fish, a mermaid. Beautiful and bold.

  

Sunday, June 4, 2023

My diary of every day

                                                     My diary of every day    Aurélie Asseo




Dear diary


We are on the fourth of June twenty twenty-three and I am now thirty-five years old and four months. Strangely enough these days are part of a difficult life period for me. It's been like that for nine years now and if you read my memoir's draft  "the cat stumbles "you may understand why. I am in a time of wonderings I don't understand all what has happening to me the last nine or ten years and I wonder if I am the only one in such a situation. I find it very difficult compared to my previous experiences of life .I don't understand it all.The reason why I try to write short fictions now is partly because I need to think of romantic settings and such dreams I would have wanted myself to come true.Romanticism lightens my anxiety.What I like when I try to sketche these chapters is that I completely visualize them.Although my characters do  not  always resemble  me,some do. I enjoy chosing places I have not been recently and sometimes never been to. Although I know my imagination to be vivid I hope my descriptions or the knowledge I built to be insightful and mostly accurate.I have been in a very strange position lately as I hear  people screaming when I am alone at home. I feel frightened. If you read my poems "Blue and Scarlet verse" or my teenage diary you'd understand that I wrote mostly poetry from 2002 to 2017 and now it seems that I really have switched to prose or poetic prose.I as any woman had crushes  for people and fell in love too .Although I mostly failed sentimentaly  and my latest relationship was difficult. I am at loss now with certain things. My problem is that many of the relationships I had wanted  would have been wrecked by circumstances I do not understand or I was confronted supposedly to unrequited love stories (I thought about Alexandra a lot)  I listened  quite a bit to some  classical music  for a time: Rachmaninov's etudes tableau Bartok's Romanian Folk dances, Djvorak , Janacek and a few others. In the last decade I discovered a few rock bands, one is a band called Porcupine Tree and the singer is called Steven Wilson, I like his songs quite a lot and play these songs while writing, I also listen to a band called Beck ,from time to time, the singer David Campbell Hansen, is quite "Sparrowish" ( a  private joke in reference to my story "White Shore" alhough a bit different from my teacher's Monika's  male assistant, who is not a show buisness person and therefore might be an accessible friend? I wonder if so, maybe)    

Dear Diary, June fourth, twenty twenty-three, and I find myself at the age of thirty-five and four months. These days mark a challenging period, lingering for nine years now, as chronicled in my draft memoir, "The Cat Stumbles." The complexities of my life puzzle me, and I often wonder if others face similar enigmas. This phase feels more demanding than any I've encountered before, leaving me grappling with understanding. To navigate through these tumultuous times, I've turned to crafting short fictions. Creating romantic settings and dreaming of what could have been lightens the weight of my anxiety. The process involves vividly visualizing chapters, sometimes with characters that mirror aspects of myself. I take solace in selecting locations I've not recently visited or have never experienced firsthand. Despite my vivid imagination, I aspire for my descriptions to be not just imaginative but also insightful and, ideally, accurate. Lately, an unsettling development has emerged. Alone at home, I've been hearing people screaming, a haunting experience that leaves me frightened. Perhaps delving into my poetry, like "Blue and Scarlet Verse," or revisiting my teenage diary might offer insights into these unnerving occurrences. Reflecting on my past, I acknowledge my share of crushes and failed romantic endeavors. The most recent relationship proved to be particularly challenging, leaving me grappling with various uncertainties. Many relationships I had envisioned were thwarted by circumstances beyond my comprehension, and I've faced what seemed like unrequited love stories, notably thinking of someone named Alexandra. In terms of artistic companionship, classical music accompanied me for quite some time, featuring the likes of Rachmaninov, Bartok, Djvorak, Janacek, and others. However, in the last decade, I discovered rock bands, with Porcupine Tree and Steven Wilson's songs becoming a comforting backdrop to my writing. Another occasional muse is Beck, led by David Campbell Hansen, whose music intertwines with my creative process. As I tread through these uncertain waters, I wonder if there's a connection between my fictional worlds and the disconcerting screams that echo in my solitary moments. Could music, particularly the tunes of Steven Wilson or Beck, guide me through this maze of confusion? Only time will tell, and as I continue to explore the realms of prose and poetic prose, I hope to find clarity amid the mist Yours sincerely,

Friday, June 2, 2023

White shore, first chapter and begining of chapter II and III

White shore A  short fiction by Aurélie Asseo

 Chapter I Lola 

On the shores of Denmark was a tranquil sandy beach, immaculate. This shoreline was that of a small island part of a channel of islands caressed by the salty water of the North seas. The light of the sun was low in the sky and shone gently on clear waters. Rays almost blond were playing on the horizon, a theater. A fisherman’s sailing boat had been left on shore then yet without its owner in sight. A young woman named Lola was strolling on the beach, slender she was, although not that tall. Her long hair fair and wavy was stylized in a bun with a tin fairy pin. Her eyes were expressive and blue and her cheeks with freckles occasionally. Lola spoke four languages at least. She wanted to talk the more she could of her beliefs. She believed in magic firmly. She thought that kings and queens of the Rosenborg castle were cursing her. Lola’s enigmatic encounters had started last Spring as she had paid herself a visit to the castle perched on dry and green land. She had come very early in the morning the place was damp with fog and dew, and in the distance, it was the mirror of another time. As if time indeed was suspended. A castle in the hands of morning fairies, a yard of witches and wizards, of kings and queens. A fisherman had come alongside the young woman, probably the owner of that lone sailboat. The fisherman named Jan, tall fair and old had told Lola of a lords ’conspiracy. Jan had also told her that they, the powerful lords of the castle, threatened to kill her if she did not find a lost golden crown. Lola had never expected such a dim prospect had been wished for her. She had no choice but to fulfil her mission, find that crown and give it to the Lords. Lola was now in her house by the sea near a light house and in her living room she had picked a notebook writing what she had planned to help herself on her journey. 

" Dear diary, Jan the old fisherman told me of a handsome young man named James who lives around and would be entirely devoted in helping me finding that lost possession of the Lords. I am ready to meet that man and probably other people along the way. I know I will have to wake up early tomorrow morning and start my mission. I know it’s a difficult challenge what is happening to me, and I never expected such a thing, however I remain optimistic and believe in a positive fate. I know I will succeed. 
 Yours faithfully

 Lola Rose Andersen. "

 The next morning Lola was thus getting ready for a meeting with that man named James Sparrow. Jan had told he was not living that far from her. They had to meet on the shore on the most picturesque side along the small rocks. Lola had dyed her hair brown, and it suited her and likewise she had outlined her blue eyes with black pencil. Nervously she twisted the rings on her fingers while waiting for Mr. James Sparrow. There was a light wind and droplets of a very thin and intermittent rain. Lola had found some shelter under a small rock folding her umbrella, the sight here was beautiful, the sea blue grey, resembled glass. Lola leaned back against the rock gently waiting for her visitor. She wondered how that man could be and so far, she only knew his name. Several minutes passed before she heard footsteps and the sudden voice of a man asking, "Are you Lola Andersen?" "Yes, I am, and I suppose you are mister James Sparrow?" 
"Yes, delighted to meet you Ms. Andersen" James was a handsome man she found. Blond and dressed so elegantly he immediately pleased her and his face, she wondered if he was also from the place. "Where are you from? "Well, I am a melting pot» he replied. "My maternal grandmother was born here native of the region, and my grandfather, her husband was Swedish, they gave birth to my mother, Anna in Italy. My father, Michael Sparrow is British and was born in London, his mother, Christine was Born and grew up in Dublin. My parents Anna and Michael Sparrow met in Italy in Florence, Tuscany, on a holiday. I grew up and spent most of my childhood there before going back to Britain in my twenties, I also lived in the United -States for a decade. What about you?" 

"Well, I was born here and frequented an English school. My mother Emily Rose is British. My father Dave Andersen was born in the Rosemborg Castle although he is an ordinary man not a Lord. Originally the Andersen’s are native of the region, nevertheless my grandfather moved to New Zealand when my father was a child and so they lived in Wellington for twenty years. My father met my mother here as they were both studying archeology for college. My mother Emily Rose was born in Kent in a small village named Willburg, her mother was Russian by blood although her family the Shevas had emigrated to Britain in the nineteenth century from St Petersbourg.Her name was Leah Sheva, she was Jewish. I travelled quite a lot in my life and lived abroad. As I matter of fact I left when I was eighteen and traveled for ten years. I came back here only two years ago to settle. What I know is that there's a curse with that castle. Let me tell you and I suppose it is also the reason you are here to help me. When he was thirteen my father burglarized the castle and stole one of their most expensive crowns which must be worth something like two million pounds and is of archeological value. The crown is made of very expensive jewels and carats. An enquiry was made, and the crown was not found anywhere in New Zealand. I was told now that the Lords are crossed with me for that reason, and I need to find that crown" 

 "Well this is precisely what old Jan told me. As you may have heard I am a highly qualified detective and specialized in stolen values and counterfeit. I graduated from the university of Chicago I came across your story in the newspaper when I was back in New York. I remember this was in the top stories of the New York Time and I was fourteen when I read it back in 1998. "I was fourteen too" Lola replied and " I remember the article way back in 1960 priceless crown of the Rosenborgs was stolen since then nor the crown neither the suspect had been found, however there's been an ongoing enquiry for years 
"I had read that article too and was so frightened to be discovered, said Lola." 

"Don't worry Ms. Anderson I will be somewhat of a bodyguard. Your safety is a priority to me, you won't be in danger at all. Indeed, our journey will be pleasant despite the huge work needed to accomplish our mission. You and I will enjoy our time and visit the greatest spots in Denmark. Moreover, it is likely that my neighbor and a sister of mine will complete our team, two admirable ladies I can tell." replied James

. Chapter II: James

 Lola had accepted the deal and had enjoyed her consecutive meetings with James Sparrow. She discovered he had a raffish facet added to his highly cultivated soul and interest in many things in life. She enjoyed meeting him in that pub near the fire where they would talk of what they had planned to do. The man sat in the corner of the fire, he had quite a youthful complexion in his mid-thirties and looked at her with a sharp look sagacious and dreamily thoughtful or self- absorbed. He indeed looked wise and worthy of trust. He was handsome Lola found him quite seductive naturally. He was indeed worthy of trust. The more they talked the more she found that his devil-may care attitude was only a way he had to introduce himself and that he was showing signs he liked her a lot although a little surreptitiously. nobody could get mad at him for sticking a tongue from time to time. She started seeing his eyes that were sky blue as a new shelter where she would find reassurance and approbation. They would achieve a long inquiry, they would befriend, and maybe more she told herself.

 Chapter III: Magic in the house 

 The young woman had been asked by mister Sparrow to sketch in details the whole surrounding around the castle as well as the castle itself. It took her time then she enjoyed doing so as she enjoyed more and more the time, she spent with mister Sparrow. Lola was focused on her drawings at her table. This young woman felt wrapped in a new adventure and beside her navy-blue eyes that displayed the expression of the most beautiful, frightened doe. She was quite a bold person and ready for her mission, she also wanted to improve her life standards, although her small house near the sea was very pleasant. The woman had looked deeply into people’s eyes and souls. One evening the lady was sitting in her armchair home and wondered if she always had the right perceptions.
 Lola had left the living room’s window ajar and so with a view on a tiny garden in which was a small oak tree. It was not unusual to see birds coming and going freely flying toward their fates and sheltering in the garden’s trees from time to time. As she was pleasing her eyes with such a show, she noticed a small white owl dropping an envelope in the oak tree. It was not unusual to see birds coming and going freely flying toward their fates and sheltering in the garden’s trees from time to time. As she was pleasing her eyes with such a show, she noticed a small white owl dropping an envelope in the oak tree. A little surprised, she stepped in the garden quickly and fetched that letter in the tree handling it carefully.Her name had been scribbled on the envelope, stamped with a waxy crown: 

 “Dear Lola, The latest sketches you drew of Rosenborg are good.I put them on a computer software to generate three dimensional cardboards which will be easier tools for our search. I really appreciated the time we spent together at the pub, and I would like to meet you even more, you are quite a pleasant person to be with. Despite my work I enjoy walks in the countryside, near the harbour or in any of our gardens, I would be pleased to spend such a time in your company, we could visit a library too and have a café in a bakery. I would be glad if we meet tomorrow morning and spend that day together, what do you think? We could then spend the evening together at your home. You can answer me with a text message writing “Yes “or “no” I hope you’ll say yes, Kind regards James Sparrow.”

 The next morning Lola had made herself very beautiful dressed in refined clothes. She could not wait any longer. Now she was hearing the bell ringing at her door. She walked on doorstep opening it. To her greatest surprise she saw another young woman, also beautiful, at the entrance. “Hello Lola, nice to meet you I am Laureen, James ‘neighbour I am going to spend a little of the morning with you both. I wanted to meet you I need to make new friends indeed.” Lola dressed in a lovely and long beige skirt with her long hair braided in many tiny plaits below her shoulders smiled at Laureen who she did not know but liked immediately. Laureen was a petite woman, a little tubby with harmonious curves she had long curly brown hair and two big oriental eyes.

 She looked kind, with a fire in her eyes. She looked a little playful, Lola liked her expression. “Delighted to meet you Laureen” she replied. The two women talked for a couple of minutes and suddenly a man arrived in a very discreet white car, he parked it and left it. It was James Sparrow. The man dressed quite well although casually, took his bike from his car’s roof and with a gentle smile biked towards Lola and Laureen. Sparrow wore a white dressed shirt and a white hat. He would quickly swift his thick blond hair with his fingers and say “Hello” in a voice soft and present.The two women talked for a couple of minutes and suddenly a man arrived in a very discreet white car, he parked it and left it. It was James Sparrow. 

The man dressed quite well although casually, took his bike from his car’s roof and with a gentle smile biked towards Lola and Laureen. The man wore a white dressed shirt and a white hat. He would quickly swift his thick blond hair with his fingers and say “Hello” in a voice soft and present. Laureen looked at James almost blushing and was playing with Lola’s plaits once there were in the car. James kissed Lola and Laureen kissed both although, clutched at Lola’s every breath wrapping herself in James' arms and letting him wrap Lola's and her ethereal beauty wakened by her presence.Lola, James and Laureen went out of James Sparrow's car after they had drove for  fourty-five minutes. James had parked near the Tivoli's gardens.Although there were tempted to go to the amusment park.James lead the ladies to a more secret spot that was behind: a park. The garden's park was adorned with many trees: oak trees, plane trees, ash trees and  a yew tree as well as one  cherry tree.The latter were disposed harmoniously and so the park did not look cramp.It was in a perfect cosy light.A huge green path with a road paved in the middle  would lead to a majestic nineteenth century  mansion which had the colour of  wine.

"This now has became a collective play house for children and families to come in for free, it's been like that for the last forty years. The mansion is two floored, there's an independant  cafeteria for people to store food and drinks, they can even decorate the place themselves" The three friends entered the mansion.

Thursday, May 25, 2023

A poem I had written for Emma in 2002 Douglas translated into English the same year

 Her hair is flaxen

Blue as eyes precious gems

Two lakes of water crystalines

A face radiant,

Rays of tenderness

Unsurpassed

An angel, her name

Emma

Soul of the river Boyne and Emerald isle poem written in 2004 or 2005 I revised in 2023

              (I had written these for Joanna but I  dared not showing them to her)                                                       

                                                      

                                                     

                                                 

                                                              Soul of the river Boyne

                                                           She is the water shining as white silk

                                                         Trees and stones revered her

                                                     A young godess of the river.

                                                              Alive like a gem of fire

                                                               A tumultuous tempest

                                                         In a guileless  time she fought.

                                                         A tumultuous tempest over now.

                                                     And years after the storm calmly remains

                                                               A peaceful bank .

                                               Foamy waves , a little salt and grainy sand; 

                                                             A little red in the twilight.

                                                       And years after the storm

                                                      She glides peacfully

                                                  She glides peacfully.

                                                 

                                                       Emerald eyes

                                                She is a friend of mine

                                               I see  a sheen of light

                                              In her warm and soft smile        

                                             I  am dazzled for real everytime

                                             She is a friend of mine

                                             A sheen of ginger 

                                             in her smooth dark hair

                                             Her eyes blue and soft 

                                           A bit of that spirit she wears

                                          named Emerald eyes.

                                          She is a friend of mine

                                          She speaks with her voice quite steady

                                          A tongue a little  piquant .

                                        Still I think  I enjoy letting myself

                                          falling in love, innocent is my own prospect.

                                            If on her table there is no water

                                          I would like to have shared more drinks.

                                         She is every day at school with me

                                        Still she has an expression of mystery

                                       Is there something I will never see?    

                        



       

La barque/ a small boat, un poème que j'ai écris quelque part entre 2005 et 2010

                                                        La barque / a small boat


Si blanc est le sable de ce rivage;                                                  So white is the sand on this shore 

Il ne brûle pourtant pas mes yeux;                                                   It does not burn my eyes though.

mon regard n'a qu'un seul horizon                                                        A singular  look to the horizon  

La barque de cristal.                                                                                 A small boat made of crystal.

Lisse chaude et lumineuse.                                                                     So smooth  and warm  and shiny

Transparente mais colorée de reflets pastels.                                               Translucid and soft -hued;

Mon regard n'a qu'un seul horizon                                      This small boat catches my eye my                                                                                                         

                                                                                                

                                                                                                            

La barque de cristal qui traverse les siècles      As it goes through centuries             

qui traverse les temps          And travels in time-                                                                  

J'entend une voix au loin                                            I hear a voice in the distance

Dois-je croire cent mille promesses qui me sont faites?      Shall  I believe  one hundred    thousand promises  now made to me ?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                       

Dois -je suivre la reine blonde ? Shall I follow this blond queen?

cette reine de beauté                     This  pageant

Ma reine des fées                          My fairy queen.

dans la barque de cristal               In a small  boat ,crystal clear.    

N'est-il pas déjà lancé un charme contre moi?   A spell on me is put already

Je vois que je l'aime déjà                                   As I realize I already love her;

Et mon regard n'a qu'un seul horizon                   Without a backward glance. 

La barque de cristal qui traverse les siècles          A small boat made of crystal         

Qui traverse les temps.                                          which glides through timelessely