A marvel
of technology that
just was not enough. Royal fountains
standing there, much too high
up above.All left now:
some remnants hidden
in plain sight, telling us the story
of what one time was a
king's great might.
From river's
banks you still can trace this
innovation's route and discover
old Louis's royal
neighbourhood.
Back in April, I told you about the Marly Machine. It was a bit of a mystery to me, and bit by bit I tried to learn more about it. This week I got lucky. I was invited, as one of the wonderful Yvelines Ambassadors to a special evening in the Marly Museum. Now, the aforementioned machine was made to provide water to the Marly Estate (and then on to Versailles), so this is the place to go to learn everything there is to know about that machine. That, and things about the royal life of Louis XIV you will not learn anywhere else. Marly was the more private estate, and more private royal things happened here. The castle and buildings that once were the king’s playground, nothing remains, but the story is too good to miss.
Uncovering the story of the Marly Machine step-by-step mirrors my journey of discovering my new home. Before moving here, I knew next to nothing about the Yvelines department west of Paris. Sure, I had been to Saint-Germain-en-Laye, and I have a vague memory of visiting Versailles many, many moons ago, but that was about it. Now, also thanks to the inspiring Yvelines tourist board and my fellow Ambassadeurs 78, I have discovered a whole new world.
The Sounds of December
Yes, really, I do enjoy the ring-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding, the little drummer boy and a partridge in a pear tree, but the joy of those is even better if once in a while you can listen to a different tune. Well, I have just that for you. Twenty seven songs to enhance your December joy:
And if you want to take a different kind of audio-meditative break, why not listen to this episode of the Tripple Effect podcast featuring Harley King:
Poetry Elsewhere
When poetry is about ordinary things is when it catches my attention. And this poet keeps on writing great sonnets to ordinary objects. This time a Sonnet to a Garden Trowel.
This one, [birds], creates a magical atmosphere of dreaminess and pain.
I have a sweet spot for what I call meta poetry. Poetry about (writing) poetry. This is one from Africa: A Poet’s Riddle [links to a page on Facebook].