Paris has often broken my heart. Our tryst began when I was 19, studying at the Sorbonne, as I stumbled through language, culture, youthful romance and John Kennedy’s assassination, learning otherness in a core-defining way. Over the next decades, I ended two marriages in Paris — feeble, last-ditch efforts — “if not in Paris, where?” The answer, of course, was nowhere. But last year I returned again, and my love and I renewed vows taken twenty-four years earlier by placing a padlock on an iron ring of the quai and tossing the keys into the Seine. We returned once more this spring and found our lock, glinting gold with other locks from other lovers.
twilight in Paris
blossoms amid cobblestones
je t’aimerais toujours
A haibun written for dVerse to illustrate kintsugi — the art of broken pieces made beautiful. Come join the fun.
A love renewed is a beautiful experience, specially in Paris ~ I hope for your journey filled with peace, acceptance, love and finding beauty as you both grow older ~
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Such kind words, Grace. Thank you. Yes, I’ve found my soulmate. 29 years together.
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I love how you made the setting an integral character in your story. And I do love a happy ending!
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Thanks, Stella. And a happy ending, indeed.
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Wonderful! and did you realize that yesterday (May 29) was the 100th birthday of John Kennedy?
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Thanks, Lillian. And yes, whenever an anniversary of his comes about I think of that time.
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Beautiful, Sarah! I love the meaning packed into the final line – Paris or your love?…both, I’m thinking. Your take on the theme is wonderful 🙂
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Thanks, Ryan.
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You’re welcome 🙂
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I have seen those locks on the bridges of Paris. They are more memorable than the bridges themselves.
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Oh Frank, I hope not. The bridges are so beautiful! They did have to reconstruct the Pont des Arts because of the weight of all the locks. But because Paris is, after all, the City of Love as well as the City of Light, they saved the railings and installed them near the Place de Concord. We picked a spot that won’t collapse a bridge, so no worries for our lock.
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I love this example of mending the broken… to rekindle the fire sounds also like Paris being redeemed… wonderful
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Indeed, Paris is back in my good graces. Thanks Bjorn.
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What a romantic end to a series of breakages! I only married once in Paris and haven’t got round to breaking it up yet 🙂
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Oh Jane, how romantic to get married in Paris. That’s a wedding and a honeymoon all at once!
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That’s where we were living so it didn’t seem romantic at the time, and we already had one baby, which made it even less romantic…
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An wonderful! In a way restore my faith and makes me earn for a trip to Paris. The haiku was delightful!
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Merci, merci!
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Love and Paris are synonymous. I’m glad you found yours!
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Me too, Bev. Thanks!
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A beautiful haibun and so happy to see that by healing your own heart and finding your soulmate, you are creating wonderful new memories in Paris too 💜🗼
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Thanks, Xenia.
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You are very welcome ☺
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Love that romance filled in those breakages. Love is a wonderful thing.
Anna :o]
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Indeed it is, Anna. Thanks.
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