{This is a response to Friday Fictioneers, but also a response to the events of the week. “Tristesse” (Etude, Op.10, No. 3) is a beautiful piece, written for piano by the Polish composer who spent much of his short life in France, Frédéric Chopin. The meaning of the word in French is “sadness.” A friend of mine, who is a French teacher, used it to sum up her reaction to the fire. Trying to find the definition, I stumbled upon the music, which seems to embody the feeling, too. Our hearts go out to Paris.
For a beautiful set of photographs of the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, please visit Streets of Nuremberg and enjoy the three illustrated blogposts there, while getting a stunning tour and an understanding of what the world has lost. This link goes to the third tour, which shows us the outside of the church.
Thanks for the prompt and for reading and for the lovely photo.}
Chopin’s “Tristesse” floated down like soap bubbles, notes vanishing into sad silence, before hitting the ground.
Frédéric needed air.
Elbows on the railing, mug in hand, helplessly safe on his fire escape, he shook his head.
Burrowing in his turtleneck, only his sigh was visible.
Cafe-au-lait-heated fingertips reminded him.
Of kinder climates.
Of warmer memories.
Of sights, never to be forgotten.
Of Paris.
The piano stopped, replaced by quiet sobs.
Frédéric gripped his mug. Clinging to what, by nature, was fleeting.
Our Lady, burning. Our Lady, alight.
Mon Dieu.
Notes again: the sound of breaking hearts.
Music to cry to.
Copyright 2019 Andrea LeDew
Lovely, atmospheric.
Thanks Dawn!
Such a tragedy indeed, Andrea; I can’t imagine who was not moved by the sight of that beautiful and historic place burning. I loved it there, and can’t even fathom it. Your story really captures the emotional impact.
Thank you Dawn. It was like a death in the family for us all.
Absolutely beautiful!
Thank you! I’m afraid you ended up in my spam or I’d have thanked you earlier!
A beautiful, wistful reflection on a very sad event. Very moving.
Thank you Margaret! It was a very moving week!
This is sad and beautiful. And the shared sadness all over the world, regardless of nationality or religion also shows what unites us.
That’s true gah.
“Helplessly safe.” That’s just one of the many perfectly turned phrases in the beautiful, sad poem.
Thank you granonine.
beautiful write! and the sadness of the Chopin really sets the mood.
Indeed.
Beautifully written piece that encapsulates the sadness of this week.
Thank you brenda. It is a bitter pill to swallow!
This was most beautifully done, Andrea.
Thank you Dale. Sorry it took so long to reply I must have skipped over you!
No worries, Andrea. It happens! 🙂
Dear Andrea,
I’m a fan of Chopin’s music. Lovely piece.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thank you, Rochelle. It did seem to fit the current mood. I also saw an incredible piece on Facebook made several years ago, about the organist at Notre Dame, and its fabulous organ, which had been, in some iteration , a part of every ceremony held there for the past several centuries, including the (self-)coronation of Napoleon. Beautiful shots of the interior wooder carvings and windows. According to a news report i read, it appeared the organ was saved but filled with water so damage uncertain. My piano teacher from long ago sent it to me. ?
Lovely piece, I expect Frédéric was not alone in his thoughts.
Thank you draliman!
Excellent bringing together of prompt, news, music and language. Very well done, and encapsulates many feelings of the past few days.
Thank you Iain. Hard to think of much else.
Loved how you presented this tribute to an irreplaceable edifice
Thanks CE.
Oh, Andrea – that was so haunting. Beautifully done!
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thank you Susan. Trying to approximate the horror of this week…Futile. Reminds me of calculus, getting closer and closer but never quite reaching…
Very interesting use of metaphors
Thanks neil. When i saw this picture, all I saw was the fire escape.
I found something beautiful and rich about this story. Can’t put my finger on it.
Thank you Tannile.
That is so beautiful, Andrea.