Night and Day

What is the difference between a city in the daytime and a city at night? Often worlds and worlds, but you have to experience it -- and often photograph it -- to really know for sure. Our last post from the honeymoon au Quebec, and we show you some wonderful spots to adventure. Don't miss the words and images, at blog.amynelsonhahn.info...

Jour et nuit

As night turns into day,
I trail behind me
silken paths, snail-like --
I never want to leave --
where have I been before?
 where will I go here since?
 I wander into yet another
excruciating sight.
I fairly hate this town
for having made me fall
so fast in love with it,
and having quite so soon
to leave it all behind.
There are words for churlish girls
who play this game, but Canada --
I do not think I'll ever really leave you
quite behind; in day or night --
we are aligned.

(c) Amy Nelson McVeigh 2012

for photos please see 3733, 3734, 3736, 3718, 3716, 3722, 3725, 3728, 3719, and 3740 at blog.amynelsonhahn.info

Dans les yeux

Les Mascarons de Bordeaux are important artifacts at the Hotel de Ville in Quebec, Canada. A gift from the famed city in France, they were to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Quebec. Carnivalesque, royal, ancient, and modern -- you can look at these figures in many ways. But we at the blogpost choose to look at them long and deeply, and to think of them as...friends. More words and images at, blog.amynelsonhahn.info

Eminence

Dating back to Medusa
and the shield of mighty Perseus,
your liminal eyes
cast a thousand longing spies
back through a window,
over a doorpost, into history
itself, and asked us:
what secrets are worth keeping?
and shall we lose our tongues
today, or keep on speaking?
Many faces, somewhat aghast,
at folly long since dead --
what, can we still make of you,
but pass along, and try hard
not to lose our heads.

(c) Amy Nelson McVeigh 2012

for photos please see 3784, 3786, 3788, 3791, 3793, and 3794 at blog.amynelsonhahn.info

Who goes there?

"La Halte dans le foret" is a bronze sculpture by Louis-Philippe Hebert that stands outside Quebec's Hotel du Parlement, commemorating the lives of native Amerindians, the Abenequais or Algonquins. How appropriate that the French, who allied themselves with the native peoples of that land so early in their history there to fend off the invading British, should be grateful to their comrades. See this monument and several more, plus discussion, at blog.amynelsonhahn.info

Dans le foret

Deep in the woods
you can scarce hear breathing,
and the chance rush brushing
of a thigh against a limb
causes a stir
not worth answering for.
As far as we are
we know exactly where we've been --
we are yet home, and no one,
not for promises nor ploys
nor any coy plot that may be whirring
can truly capture it from us,
not even
in this enticed moment
where we have severed time
from its reckoning space.

(c) Amy Nelson McVeigh 2012

for photos please see 3770, 3769, 3768, 3782, 3756, 3759, and 3760 at blog.amynelsonhahn.info

le Pere du Canada

Outside the famed Hotel de Frontenac in Quebec City, right on the St. Lawrence River, there is a grand statue of the man known as the Father of Canada, Samuel de Champlain. Who was this man, and what accomplishments distinguished his life? And what makes Quebec such a special place? More to discover here, in words and images, at blog.amynelsonhahn.info

Qui etes vous?

A long and challenged history,
not chequered, not without victory
but purpled with the bloods of friends
and enemies -- who were you then,
we wonder as we look at your sullen
face, a mounted statue or in a book,
what did you fulfill for the wastrel French
or capture for their foes? Lord only
knows if times can tell it straight
and we no longer have your own
fine yarns to keep the memory of such
fears quite bright or less than wayward -- Sir
do pardon us our faults and failings;
everyone since has meant you well.
Copyright (c) 2012 Amy Nelson Hahn

view with images 3696, 3698, 3697, 3702, 3700, 3703, 3705, 3713, and 3704  from photos.amynelsonhahn.info or visit blog.amynelsonhahn.info

Dans la rue avec vous

How precious is the company of a loved one, when traveling in a foreign land? Andrew and I have been taking pictures and making poetry together for some time now, but it was never until we were thrown into a little bit of "espace etrangere" that I believe it became clear: we rely fully on each other's many talents. More details, in a very special blog, at blog.amynelsonhahn.info

Au Quebec

You worried me,
as we stepped into the middle
of a brand new street of the Old World --
I thought I had lost you in my time ---
but then in a moment's breadth
you returned, heart in hand,
as ever, showing me your prize.
Is it not divine that this river
narrowed at its neck was purposed
so that you could kiss me here
and make me never want to leave?
Copyright (c) 2012 Amy Nelson Hahn

view with images 3681, 3683, 3689, 3690, 3691 and 3692  from photos.amynelsonhahn.info or visit blog.amynelsonhahn.info

Our thanks to all our readers/viewers!

Time machine

When Andrew and I visited the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, the first Anglican Cathedral of Quebec, we were overwhelmed by its beautiful stained glass windows and amazing woodwork. But there's more to the story of this famous church than meets the eye: gain a window into history and thoughts dialed into the future, with fabulous pictures, at blog.amynelsonhahn.info

In a wilderness, hope

Never knowing what to find
just behind any unknown corner
or alongside any foreign path,
with only the guidance of yet
untrusted friends and God's bright day,
such mission never faltered,
claimed its prize predestined
and determined where to set its jewel.
There's no steep virtue in ungoverned
pride but solely in the eyes
of those who look to heaven
to inspire them in their ways;
who conscript themselves, when elected,
to fates sometimes delivered cruel.
Copyright (c) 2012 Amy Nelson Hahn

view with images 3622, 3621, 3617, 3626, 3634, and 3623  from photos.amynelsonhahn.info or visit blog.amynelsonhahn.info

Change is good

On the first day of our visit to Quebec City, Andrew and I visited La Citadelle, which features a spectacular changing of the guard ceremony every morning. A full band plays, and the regimental mascot -- the goat, Batisse -- is trotted out to escort the new troops to their appointed places. It was a beautiful summer day and -- bearskin hats notwithstanding -- everyone seemed to enjoy the festivities. Words and images galore, at blog.amynelsonhahn.info

Le Royal regiment 22e

None before or since
could scarce have done so well
at marking time succinctly,
rendering the common face a new
gentility and grace, a new
ferocity, as the mascot favors,
love ever endures but punishes most
where have been appointed
its most impressive labors.
You bearclad 22eme, how regal,
how conformed, and none before
and none quite ever since have led
the French anointed.
Copyright (c) 2012 Amy Nelson Hahn

view with images 3536, 3538, 3540, 3557, 3584, 3595, and 3607  from photos.amynelsonhahn.info or visit blog.amynelsonhahn.info