With the approach of Christmas and the New Year, I would like to offer these Champagne poems. Just two notes: poilu is a French word for soldiers in the First World War. They had no opportunity to shave and were called poilu which means "hairy one." The cathedral in one poem is in Reims. German artillery bombarded it during the First World War, provoking great outrage at the destruction of artwork.
Yes, Dom Pérignon,
A chaste monk in his cellar,
Made his wine sparkle.
On the hard chalk hills
Stoic Champenois produce
Their effervescence.
Stroll in a vineyard
Here near Reims you just might find
A poilu’s remains.
A scarred cathedral
Offers us testimony
Of war and healing.
Cathedral in Reims,
Gothic art amid vineyards,
Faith took deep roots here.
Watch the bubbles rise
Share the night with your good friends
Enjoying God’s gifts
by Mark Schardine, December 2008
Mark is a contributing and performing poet in the Cultural Art Expression Open Mic that I run here in Princeton/Plainsboro. He also shares a love for wine and food as I do, and had once again presented me with a wonderful expression for the coming holidays! I welcome any poetry for this site from many of you other food and wine aficionados out there...
