Charmed Chaos
Musings on Life, Love, and Linguine-Poetry & Writing
The Old Man on Pont Neuf
It’s a misty morning
as I stand on Pont Neuf
listening to soft lapping
of water against wood
The scene is like a dream
as the fog grows thick
and then a dull tapping
of a wood cane on brick
A ghostly grey old man
out of the fog appears
wearing a coal beret
that has seen better years
He carries crusty bread
in crooked gnarled fingers
followed by noisy pigeons
begging him to linger
He pauses on the bridge
breaking bread in pieces
tossing them dry crumbs
and their cooing ceases
As he passes by me
his frail arm brushes mine
he looks me in the eye
and with a smile sighs
‘Ah, were I young again
I’d take your hand and dance
I’d ply you with red wine
we’d have a grand romance!’
©2021 Linda Lee Lyberg
dVerse Poets Pub: MTB Anapestic Tetrameter
Author’s Note: Day 22 of National Poetry Month.
Linda Lee Lyberg is a wife, mother, artist, published poet and author. She resides in Mesa, AZ with her husband Pete (aka The Big Viking) of 24 years and their latest rescue, Jackson “Jax” Lyberg. Linda writes various forms of poetry, as well as short stories. You can read more of her works at: charmedchaos.com and view anthologies containing her work here: Amazon Author Page
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Charmed Chaos 
I love the scene setting in the opening stanzas, Linda – Paris as I remember it – and the way the old man emerges from the fog and your words.
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Thank you Kim!
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I love the way the old man appears… almost like a benign ghost… this made me really want to travel.
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Thank you Bjorn- I feel the same too…sigh, maybe someday.
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Yes, the setting is vividly painted and it plays like a movie scene to me.
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Thank you!
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Sounds like there’s a spark in the old man yet! Lovely atmosphere you’re created here 😊
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Thank you Ingrid!
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This was delightful. I also like the way the old man appears like a ghost, but one who remembers romancing.
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Thank you Merril!
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Great! I think every old man has those very same thoughts when he sees a pretty young thing!
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Haha! Thank you. I agree.
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Tender, kind, and beautiful, Linda.
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Thank you.
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You’re welcome.
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Sweet and vintage scene Linda — charmingly written!
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Thank you Rob.
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I was getting set for a ghost story but in the end he was more haunted by her; by old age and woulda-couldas. Nice job with the form.
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Thank you!
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Love and a Frenchman (no matter how old) are never far apart! Beautifully spun atmosphere and tone, and the imagery and meter worked wonderfully together.
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Thank you so much!
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I love your sweet fantasy Linda. Such a great story you have created here!
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Thank you!
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You are welcome!
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That may have been me, Linda. I’ve been there, PONT NEUF, quite a few times. Every time I go to Paris the younger ladies are sooo nice, they always return my smiles. And I am old, way beyond my life expectancy.
You are doing good, looks like we should make the 30, eight more with tomorrow.
..
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Thank you Jim!
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Great job – you took me there, I was on the bridge.
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Wonderful!
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I love Paris, can imagine everything as you describe it though when I visited, not one gent stopped me to make such a grand proclamation. Nicely done.
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Thank you Helen!
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