"Un Sourire"
"A Smile"
Listen to Jean-Marc read this French poem. Click here
Un sourire ne coûte rien et produit beaucoup,
A smile does not cost anything but produces so much*,
Il enrichit ceux qui* le reçoivent,
It enriches the person who receives it
Sans appauvrir ceux qui le donnent.
without impoverishing the one who gives it.
Il ne dure qu'un instant,
It lasts only a few moments,
Mais son souvenir* est parfois éternel.
But its memory may sometimes last forever.
Personne n'est assez pauvre pour ne pas le mériter.
Nobody is poor enough not to deserve it.
Il crée le bonheur au foyer, soutient les affaires,
It creates happiness at home and sustains businesses,
Il est le signe sensible de l'amitié.
It is the visible sign of friendship.
Un sourire donne du repos à l'être* fatigué.
A smile brings rest to the weary soul.
Il ne peut ni s'acheter, ni se prêter, ni se voler,
It cannot be bought, nor can it be loaned or even stolen,
Car c'est une chose qui n'a de valeur
For it is something which has value
Qu'à partir du moment où il se donne.
Only from the very moment it is given.
Et si quelquefois vous rencontrez une personne
And if sometimes you meet someone
Qui ne sait plus avoir le sourire…
Who no longer knows how to smile…
(Left: Smokey's Dad, "Sam", and Mama Braise (BREZ)
Soyez généreux, donnez-lui le vôtre!
Be generous, give him yours!
Car nul n'a autant besoin d'un sourire…
As no one is more desperate for a smile…
Que celui qui ne peut en donner aux autres.
Than the one who is unable to give a smile to others.
***
The "Sourire" poem is by Raoul Follereau (1902-1977), who established World Leprosy day and who, throughout his life, shared his compassion for victims of leprosy–as well as for victims of poverty, indifference, and injustice
"Honey moon" in France. Did you get to see it? Where were you, when you viewed it? We were on our front porch, lying on lawn chairs.
Next day in the back yard. I threw on a black top for this picture, after the beige top I had on made for a topless look…. Did you want to see that picture? Hang on, I'll see if I can find it for you. Meantime, some pictures of our dining room and sas (or entry as in front door area).
We still need to paint…
I never did keep you up to date on the renovation, which, it turns out, is happening little by little–here and there and you get the picture. See, you did get the picture!
That picture I mentionned. (Only the tank top is nude.) Title: Who needs dumbbells when you've got 8 pounds of kale?
Olympic kale torch. (Gardening is a sport!) I am holding a heavy trunk of cabbage which I had to saw off (its leaves were like lace after the insects feasted).
Bon, not sure I've shared the right pictures with you today. As mentioned, my thoughts are hither and thither these days. Off to hug my Mom….
Me and precious, precious Smokey–the son of Sam and Braise (read about the miracle of finding the lost dogs in Marseilles!). I leave you with a photo of our hollyhocks. A French woman once told me: hollyhocks are too hard to grow. You'll never manage. I planted them anyway. Have a lovely, lovely day!
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Thanks so much for the lovely poem and fabulous photos. I’m so glad you are enjoying your mom’s visit.
Treasure these moments with your mom!
Be well!
Thanks so much for the lovely poem and fabulous photos. I’m so glad you are enjoying your mom’s visit.
Treasure these moments with your mom!
Be well!
I want to memorize this poem. I’m so glad you ran this offering today.
I want to memorize this poem. I’m so glad you ran this offering today.
Several years ago my husband and I were eating in a restaurant when a man came in looking somewhat sad. I gave him a big smile and he smiled back. After the man left we asked for the check. The waitress said that the man had paid our bill and that she should not say a word until after he had left. I always wondered if my smile had something to do with it.
A smile can make everyone feel better. Thank you for the beautiful poem and pictures. Amities, Janine
Several years ago my husband and I were eating in a restaurant when a man came in looking somewhat sad. I gave him a big smile and he smiled back. After the man left we asked for the check. The waitress said that the man had paid our bill and that she should not say a word until after he had left. I always wondered if my smile had something to do with it.
A smile can make everyone feel better. Thank you for the beautiful poem and pictures. Amities, Janine
Ah, gardening in the south of France! And we think we`re lucky with climate in this mild corner of BC – some even say we`re smug. My
daughter upstairs keeps 4 hens who last week escaped and headed to eat her kale seedlings. I`ll show her your photos.
Translation question: how do you describe someone we call a piece of workÉ. (That is how my computer sometimes makes a question mark.
ENJOY THE VISIT WITH MAMAN! Dorothy
Ah, gardening in the south of France! And we think we`re lucky with climate in this mild corner of BC – some even say we`re smug. My
daughter upstairs keeps 4 hens who last week escaped and headed to eat her kale seedlings. I`ll show her your photos.
Translation question: how do you describe someone we call a piece of workÉ. (That is how my computer sometimes makes a question mark.
ENJOY THE VISIT WITH MAMAN! Dorothy
Love the poem…have to copy that one down!
Lovely story from Jaine above!
Your garden is looking beautiful! 🙂
Enjoy your week with your lovely mother Jules!
Love the poem…have to copy that one down!
Lovely story from Jaine above!
Your garden is looking beautiful! 🙂
Enjoy your week with your lovely mother Jules!
Kristin, thank you for sharing the lovely poem, it brings back so many memories of the smiles I have given and received one in return , I feel as if I have been given “a special gift”. May you have a week of beautiful memories with your lovely Mother, I am looking forward to my daughter arriving later this month, so know your joy of those precious days. affectionately June,G.C Qld
Kristin, thank you for sharing the lovely poem, it brings back so many memories of the smiles I have given and received one in return , I feel as if I have been given “a special gift”. May you have a week of beautiful memories with your lovely Mother, I am looking forward to my daughter arriving later this month, so know your joy of those precious days. affectionately June,G.C Qld
j’aime cette poeme tres tres tres fois. mercy beaucoup.je aimerai lire beaucoup de poemes a cette place. au revoir
j’aime cette poeme tres tres tres fois. mercy beaucoup.je aimerai lire beaucoup de poemes a cette place. au revoir
Dear Kristin! I loved the poem & the pics. Well done on getting your garden going. I am visiting Istanbul at present where we were served large artichoke hearts covered in oil & lemon juice-tres delicious.
Fondly, Ann Marie
Dear Kristin! I loved the poem & the pics. Well done on getting your garden going. I am visiting Istanbul at present where we were served large artichoke hearts covered in oil & lemon juice-tres delicious.
Fondly, Ann Marie
Dear Kristin! J’adore le poeme (accents will not type. I will be sending it to MP Thomas Mulcair, the opposition leader of Canada. He will appreciate this as our current Prime Minister of Canada almost never smiles.
Merci,
Karen in Canada
Dear Kristin! J’adore le poeme (accents will not type. I will be sending it to MP Thomas Mulcair, the opposition leader of Canada. He will appreciate this as our current Prime Minister of Canada almost never smiles.
Merci,
Karen in Canada
Thank you, Kristin. Your mom (and the photos and poem) brings smiles to us all! I treasure each of her visits as it gives you such calm and so much joy. I hope your busy husband enjoys the mellowness of the scene too. It is a gift to count your blessings, gardens and all. Give her lots of hugs.
Your renovations are looking lovely. Bravo for the patience!
Thank you, Kristin. Your mom (and the photos and poem) brings smiles to us all! I treasure each of her visits as it gives you such calm and so much joy. I hope your busy husband enjoys the mellowness of the scene too. It is a gift to count your blessings, gardens and all. Give her lots of hugs.
Your renovations are looking lovely. Bravo for the patience!
Loved the poem ! Sounds like you and your Mom are having some serious good times together! I know how it feels as the end of the stay draws near…like that old song..”the days dwindle down ..to a precious few…September , November and these few precious days I’ll spend with you …these golden days ..I’ll spend with you …” Enjoy every moment you two !!
Loved the poem ! Sounds like you and your Mom are having some serious good times together! I know how it feels as the end of the stay draws near…like that old song..”the days dwindle down ..to a precious few…September , November and these few precious days I’ll spend with you …these golden days ..I’ll spend with you …” Enjoy every moment you two !!
Your poem is so inspirational, Kristin. I, too, rewrote it many times and took it to my french class this morning to share. As intermediate-advanced students, this poem was easy to read and comprehend which is oftentimes not the case. There was no author listed, was it you, by chance? If so, nicely done!
And…of course, enjoy every last minute you can with your Mom, from reading the other’s comments; we certainly understand!
Mary in Oregon
Your poem is so inspirational, Kristin. I, too, rewrote it many times and took it to my french class this morning to share. As intermediate-advanced students, this poem was easy to read and comprehend which is oftentimes not the case. There was no author listed, was it you, by chance? If so, nicely done!
And…of course, enjoy every last minute you can with your Mom, from reading the other’s comments; we certainly understand!
Mary in Oregon
Go for more nude pics!!!! It’s okay to shake up a few people some of the time…haha.
Love the poem.
Off to buy a skin-colored tank top.
Suzanne
Go for more nude pics!!!! It’s okay to shake up a few people some of the time…haha.
Love the poem.
Off to buy a skin-colored tank top.
Suzanne
So very nice to have a simultaneous translation from French to English, giving a very easy to understand explanation of the French language sentence construction & syntax, without having to consult a book on verb conjugations and of course the dictionary- which gives many different meanings & usages for the same word. if there were more easily available stuff like this it would be a whole lot easier to learn French as it’s really used today.
So very nice to have a simultaneous translation from French to English, giving a very easy to understand explanation of the French language sentence construction & syntax, without having to consult a book on verb conjugations and of course the dictionary- which gives many different meanings & usages for the same word. if there were more easily available stuff like this it would be a whole lot easier to learn French as it’s really used today.
Kristin,
I love the poem! That’s what I always do- smile. It helps me and other people.
Thank you for that wonderful post!
Kristin,
I love the poem! That’s what I always do- smile. It helps me and other people.
Thank you for that wonderful post!
We saw the “Honey Moon” on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada and it looked almost exactly like yours! Love it.
We saw the “Honey Moon” on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada and it looked almost exactly like yours! Love it.
Hello Kristin,
I have been following your daily email for a couple months, and, thankfully, yours was one of the few I didn’t “unsubscribe” during my recent vacation in the Dordogne.
I adore France, but have never come close to mastering the language. I will share this poem with our little French film and conversation group at our local library next week. Thank you for being a constant reminder to me of the beauties of France and thanks for sharing such lovely thoughts. You make me smile!
Hello Kristin,
I have been following your daily email for a couple months, and, thankfully, yours was one of the few I didn’t “unsubscribe” during my recent vacation in the Dordogne.
I adore France, but have never come close to mastering the language. I will share this poem with our little French film and conversation group at our local library next week. Thank you for being a constant reminder to me of the beauties of France and thanks for sharing such lovely thoughts. You make me smile!