A troupeau of sheep grazing on another pasture. Photo by Jean-Marc.
la brebis (breh-bee) : ewe
brebis égarée = lost sheep
Audio File:
(check back later for the recording) Il avait eu une époque où il croyait que ses brebis pouvaient tout lui apprendre sur le monde.There had been a time when he thought that his sheep could teach him everything he needed to know about the world. —Paulo Coelho
"What's that?" I turn off the tap, and set down the greasy sauteuse I am washing. Straining to hear my husband, I wonder if he thinks these are bionic ears, the way he's always chatting me up from the other side of thick stone wall.
Our own mouton? My mind conjures up an Arcadian scene. I see a handsome and friendly grazer roaming our land all year long, living amidst age-old olive trees, the stone borie, and a soon-to-be-planted vineyard. As much as I like the picture, I remember my neighbor's frustration with her own sheep and goat. Du soucis! du soucis! she shakes her head, whenever I ask about the pastoral pests.
"Oh… I don't think that's a good idea," I call back to my husband. "We already have Smokey and Braise to look after…."
My husband laughs at my misunderstanding. "And by the way," he adds, "I read your berger story and those aren't moutons you are referring to… Ce sont des brebis!"
Brebis! Of course! How unfortunate–as it was just the word I had been searching for in order to avoid so many "mouton" references in my story. But more than a synonym, I needed to once and for all understand that mouton did not refer to all sheep… only mature male sheep!
I often recall that scene, and the humbling truth behind her message. No matter how many degrees she held, or how many books she had written, and no matter how spiritual she was, she focused not on how much she knew, but on just how little she comprehended.
The shepherd shook his head, étonné, and I realized that he was clearly unfazed by the harsh weather.
Standing beyond our doorstep, the berger was asking for some exact dimensions regarding the boundaries of our land.
"Attendez," I said, grabbing my raincoat.
Outside, I hurried along a muddy trail, trying to keep up with the shepherd. After pointing out the boundary lines, I was slow to return home. I had so many questions for the berger, but didn't know how to ask them.
I pointed to his dog. "Noushka? C'est ça?"
"Non, her name is Mieszka," Like the first Polish king.
I gathered Mieszka was the shepherd's endearing queen. Having played the dog card twice, what else was there to say?
"No," he laughed. "Meat".
"Oh…" I said, wishing to change the subject, and feeling guilty for being such a hypocrite (not two weeks ago I had made côtelettes d'agneau for my son and me, to go along with the unpalatable chickpea fritters).
"You sure you aren't cold?" I asked, changing subjects.
"My nose is freezing!" He laughed. I thought about how one of those cagoules would serve him, the kind of mask skiers… or muggers…. wear.
I stole another glance at the berger, who might have been an outlaw. You never knew. He had already reminded me of one of those nonconformist types, the keep-to-themselves characters who never want their picture taken. What were they hiding from anyway? Probably les flics!
I pushed aside the chattering in my untrusting mind. What did I know? I don't know anything! How many times had I pegged an innocent for a criminal? Meantime, it was the ivy-league types that were stuffing helpless women into the trunk.
I didn't have a warm ski mask to offer the innocent berger, but I could give him something for the rain….
Returning, I stood with him for a few more minutes, the berger directing the umbrella over me, and I directing it back over him. If he was going to stay dry, I'd better go home.
"Would you like me to bring you some hot coffee?" As soon as I asked I realized my mistake.
"Non, merci," the berger said politely.
"Last night the sheep got loose and stumbled into the neighbor's yard, eating all the artichokes in the potager!"
"Oh no!" I felt terrible for the shepherd, who had spent the previous morning braving the snow, then the rain–only to face another harsh reality!
I decided to bake a yogurt cake, adding extra heapings of cocoa for comfort. With any chance, I could track down the berger and offer him something for his troubles. How, I wondered, did he find the time to shop? (Maybe he slipped off to the market, and that's when the sheep got loose?). And where did he prepare his food? And was he sleeping in that beat-up estafette?
When I couldn't find the berger, it occurred to me that maybe he was napping under one of the olive trees. After all, it was l'heure de sieste. Did sheepherders doze?
I worried that if I got out of the car to pursue him, I might disturb him from a needed siesta. Then again, maybe this is where his trouble began earlier? Maybe he needed to be awakened?!
All these assumptions were getting me nowhere, and the truth was, I was too chicken to pull over and hunt down the berger.
And then a warm thought encouraged me….
Little did the berger know—and little do we all know—that out there, somewhere, someone is trying to comfort us without our even knowing.
***
To comment on this story, click here. These stories are never finished, and I will continue to peck at the keyboard even after hitting the publish button. If you see any typos or have any questions, feel free to join the conversation in the comments box.
FRENCH VOCABULARY
le berger, la bergère = shepherd, sheepherder (more here)
la sauteuse = frying pan
le mouton = sheep
la borie = a dry stone hut, pictures here
du soucis! du soucis! = nothing but worry!
c'est pour manger = it's for eating
la brebis = ewe, female sheep
ce sont des brebis = those are ewes
The book cover that never was. (Click here to see which book covers made the cut!)
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I’m reading your posts in the “wrong” order and see the berger could have Facebook, on his smartphone. A smartphone isn’t a whole lot of use where I live … reception is too poor … so I forget about it as a tool for most of France.
I’m reading your posts in the “wrong” order and see the berger could have Facebook, on his smartphone. A smartphone isn’t a whole lot of use where I live … reception is too poor … so I forget about it as a tool for most of France.
Bonjour Kristin, je suis ravie que tout aille bien pour toi. You’re a kind soul, always thinking of others. Et à la fin, le berger vous a-t-il donné un mouton…pour manger? If ever I had to “slaughter” it, I could never eat meat.
Souci est un nom masculin, sans S à la fin. Donc, c’est du souci.
Bonjour Kristin, je suis ravie que tout aille bien pour toi. You’re a kind soul, always thinking of others. Et à la fin, le berger vous a-t-il donné un mouton…pour manger? If ever I had to “slaughter” it, I could never eat meat.
Souci est un nom masculin, sans S à la fin. Donc, c’est du souci.
This is one lively discussion!
I thought of le mouton in Le Petit Prince as soon as you began talking about le berger and his flock.
I miss the audio this time. I really wanted to hear the words new to me, all the particular words for mouton,
the euivalents of ram, ewe and lamb (male and female lambs). Now I know the proper word for sheep’s mile cheese.
Things that happen to you, that will never happen to me — a flock of sheep in the olive trees.
I tried this using google translate. Does it agree with how J-M uses the terms?
English
I have a flock of sheep. I have one ram, two ewes, and two lambs now.
French via google translate
J’ai un troupeau de moutons. J’ai un bélier, deux brebis, et deux agneaux maintenant.
This is one lively discussion!
I thought of le mouton in Le Petit Prince as soon as you began talking about le berger and his flock.
I miss the audio this time. I really wanted to hear the words new to me, all the particular words for mouton,
the euivalents of ram, ewe and lamb (male and female lambs). Now I know the proper word for sheep’s mile cheese.
Things that happen to you, that will never happen to me — a flock of sheep in the olive trees.
I tried this using google translate. Does it agree with how J-M uses the terms?
English
I have a flock of sheep. I have one ram, two ewes, and two lambs now.
French via google translate
J’ai un troupeau de moutons. J’ai un bélier, deux brebis, et deux agneaux maintenant.
Your story reminded me of a book I just read. It is a Young Adult book called Wonder. It’s a beautiful book, and here is part of its message:
“If every person in this room made it a rule that wherever you are, whenever you can, you wil try to act a little kinder than is necessary – the world really would be a better place. And if you do this, if you act just a little kinder than is necessary, someone else, somewhere, someday, may recognize in you, in every single one of you, the face of God.”
Even though the berger never got his cake, the act of making it is a kindness to the universe. Thanks for sharing.
Your story reminded me of a book I just read. It is a Young Adult book called Wonder. It’s a beautiful book, and here is part of its message:
“If every person in this room made it a rule that wherever you are, whenever you can, you wil try to act a little kinder than is necessary – the world really would be a better place. And if you do this, if you act just a little kinder than is necessary, someone else, somewhere, someday, may recognize in you, in every single one of you, the face of God.”
Even though the berger never got his cake, the act of making it is a kindness to the universe. Thanks for sharing.
What a funny post after being away in the country this weekend spying on my sister-in-laws sheep!!!
Soggy shephards, yoghurt cake crumbs, and counting sheep…moutons…brebis…… zzzzzz!!!!!
John-Marc.. love your photo and it is certainly a lot greener over your part of the world than it is near Junee!! Lucky sheep! 🙂
What a funny post after being away in the country this weekend spying on my sister-in-laws sheep!!!
Soggy shephards, yoghurt cake crumbs, and counting sheep…moutons…brebis…… zzzzzz!!!!!
John-Marc.. love your photo and it is certainly a lot greener over your part of the world than it is near Junee!! Lucky sheep! 🙂
Mom did you see Susies proposition! (Mom must be jumping up and down, if she is reading now!)
Millie, no, we did not accept the offer. Also, thanks for the helpful corrections. I made the same mistake in todays post! Just fixed the two, thanks to your note!
Sarah, Sorry for the delay in getting the sound file together. I need to do this… I like your Google translation — well done!
Lee, wonderful quote. Thanks.
Mom did you see Susies proposition! (Mom must be jumping up and down, if she is reading now!)
Millie, no, we did not accept the offer. Also, thanks for the helpful corrections. I made the same mistake in todays post! Just fixed the two, thanks to your note!
Sarah, Sorry for the delay in getting the sound file together. I need to do this… I like your Google translation — well done!
Lee, wonderful quote. Thanks.
I thought bélier was a ram, which I did not think was a type of sheep… It’s the word for Aries, anyway, which is a ram in English.
I thought bélier was a ram, which I did not think was a type of sheep… It’s the word for Aries, anyway, which is a ram in English.
What is your yogurt cake recipe:)
Great story. Thanks!
What is your yogurt cake recipe:)
Great story. Thanks!
Thanks for gathering together that flock of sheep-related words. Very timely, as belier and brebis appeared as words in my son’s dictee homework on Friday eve. We were impressively well informed though and did’t look sheepish, thanks to your good work!
L.
Thanks for gathering together that flock of sheep-related words. Very timely, as belier and brebis appeared as words in my son’s dictee homework on Friday eve. We were impressively well informed though and did’t look sheepish, thanks to your good work!
L.
Love it! Thanks, Lorraine.
Love it! Thanks, Lorraine.