Eddie Bell’s French Sojourn—A Pictorial Journey

In March, I traveled to Paris, then to Clermont-Ferrand and back again to Paris for a two and a half week stay in France reading my poetry and lecturing to French university and high school students. And for sure I spent as much time as possible touring and enjoying French hospitality and culture, which, of course, included many sumptuous meals and generous samplings of good wine.

The following pictorial essay captures some of the many remarkable moments of this extraordinary adventure. The people depicted in the photographs are the students, faculty and friends whom I interacted with during my stay.

I am indebted to my official hosts (I thankfully had several unofficial hosts), Marie Laure-Legroux, Khadidja Dali-Ahmed and Vincent Broqua; and to the Garrison Art Center, New York Foundation for the Arts, N.Y.S. Council on the Arts, Lycee Fenelon, Universite Blaise Pascal, Double Change (New York and Paris), French Ministry of Culture and the Michelon School for making my trip possible.

A special “Thank you” to all of the translators of my poems and to the student readers that performed with me in the classroom and at public venues. Hearing and seeing my poems in the French language was delightful and reassuring.

The English version of La mere de Michael, "Michael's Mother," first appeared in Capt’s Dreaming Chair published by CRS Outloudbooks in September 2000. The translation was accomplished by French university students, Lucie Chietien and Charlotte Valdaut, both studying in Clermont-Ferrand, France. It was read publicly in a joint English/French reading performance held in the 'Old City' of Clermont-Ferrand by Regine Panot.