Now resident in Provence, Clarence Durelle was born into a supposedly privileged family, though in actuality more deprived than you would ever believe, but there is little point in going into it here.
He has done and achieved many extraordinary things but he doesn’t suppose you would be interested. It is, after all, the work that matters.
For many years a private tutor, he seeks now only peace and understanding.
Recipe for Disaster
Take a day
and an evening
a long, hollowed out existence
and a good-sized slice of disappointment
well-matured
One hope
a bunch of assumptions
some expectations, shredded
a handful of principles
and a dream
— bruised for flavour
Take some stock
and a fresh opportunity
Leave standing for a few days
Cut carefully into the dream
remove the inedible parts
sprinkle with a little coarse optimism
pour on a pint of dread
mix
and soak overnight
Now prepare your evening
warm, with a local wine
garnished with your last remaining prayer
Do not over-season
do not stew
or it will spoil
Simmer
Reduce
Wait until the sauce has all but separated
and it has the appearance of a thick paste
Serves one
cold
Discard any leftovers
© Clarence Durelle
© Fableman.com
All Rights Reserved 2020
Kingfishers at the Pont du Gard
Green and gold
they flit from bank to bank
like birds
in a bird book
kissing the water
giving and taking
communing
with the voices of mice.
Upstream the tourists leap
heavy
noisy
fat
bloated
poisonous
English
Bombing the river
like people.
Soon they will leave
in their cars and buses
their ripples shall settle
their litter may sink
their echoes may settle, eventually
their civilisation may be destroyed.
But here, the fishers fish
the quiet kings
with the manners of the immortals
and the appetites
of something smaller.
© Clarence Durelle
© Fableman. com
All Rights Reserved 2020