Sunday, March 7, 2010

The day the circus came to town

Time is a circus, always packing up and moving away. Ben Hecht

Back to French class, and we had a new poem, by Francis Jammes.

Priere pour aller au paradis avec les anes.

The prayer is about hot dusty days, ..do you remember those?...and the hard life of a donkey who toiled long and hard, with panniers tied its sides. The life of a donkey pulling a caravan, working for travelling show people, street entertainers, or acrobats known as Saltimbanques. Le mot saltimbanque vient de trois mots italiens, "saltare in banco", sauter sur une estrade.

It conjures up in my mind a colourful spectacle, but what a hard life to live and no life at all for the poor old donkey.

Link to wikipedia about the author Francis Jammes

Below one of my photographs followed by a small painting.

Hot heat haze in the forest

Let me entertain you

I do not think that I have ever been to a circus, have you?

The word for dusty soil is poudreux.

Etymology for somersault

11 comments:

J Cosmo Newbery said...

Heat haze in the forest? Oh, really? What's all the green stuff then?

If your grass is still green you are suffering from a flood.

French Fancy... said...

I love that picture, Blu.

As for circuses - I remember going to them as a child but it is something i would never do now. Unless it was Cirque de Soleil or something like that.

LadyFi said...

Love that joyful painting. I've been to lots of circuses, but these days will only go to ones that are humane and do not use animals.

Ken Devine said...

The forest photo reminds me so much of the last bike ride I had in France and it was a scorcher. It was so good to be under a bit of shade.

It's nice to see a painting included in your posts. What are you painting with?

Never been to a French circus but I will do when they come.

Ken Devine said...

If you are up for a challenge Blu, how about a painting solely in primary colours, and then paint a second...with the other hand? If you take up the challenge, I'll try and guess which hand was which and possibly even reciprocate.

Blu said...

Hot in Brittany does include green grass!

Thanks for nice comments re painting, I have tried to draw left handed and you can tell that they are not as steady as my right handed pictures.

Unknown said...

Stunning, just stunning. Oh my, it's been so long since I've been to a circus. I was a child the last time I went and now am 46 :) I would love to see Cirque de Soleil some day but that's not really a true circus to me. I can't say that going to a circus is something that would interest me nowadays.
Keep up the great work Blu. I love looking at your lovely work. You inspire me.

ArtPropelled said...

When I was a child I went to the circus everytime they came to town and loved it. The older I got I just couldn't face circuses especially having seen the poor old elephants with weeping eyes and chains around their legs. I will never go again (except for Cirque de Soleil)because its just too unsettling.

You painting is hot!LOve Blue and White in your sidebar.

♥ Braja said...

Cirque de Soleil is definitely the only circus I'd attend these days, I can't recall ever liking the idea of one....

Lilly said...

What a beautiful picture. I went to a circus as a child but that is all. The closest I have been to one as an adult was travelling in a plane full of Cirque de Soleil performers. They were sensational travelling partners. Such interesting people. French classes, oh I did 6 years of French at school and I am rusty. sounds like fun.

Carol said...

Chris, Tom and I went to see Rain by the Cirque de Soleil a few years ago and it was magical. It actually rained on the stage at the end...if you ever get the chance to see them go!!

C x