January 4, 2005
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Poète prends ton luth and me donne un baiser .
Poet take up your lute and give me a kiss .
English version below the picture
La muse dit ces mots au poète français Alfred de Musset ( XIX ème siècle ) dans un fameux poème " la nuit de Mai " . Par son amour elle l ' encourage à écrire ses vers . Il y a des moments où l ' inspiration manque .
Au centre - ville d ' Amiens il y a une monumentale horloge en fer du début du XX ème siècle . A sa base se tient une statue en bronze de femme à demi - dévêtue . Cette femme fait penser à cette muse . Elle inspire les gens . De nombreux couples se font photographier à ses pieds . Et cela sous le regard bienveillant de Notre - Dame la superbe cathédrale gothique d ' Amiens construite au XIII ème siècle et récemment nettoyée .
Poésie , statue , cathédrale inspirent et sont le fruit de l ' inspiration . Un courant d ' inspiration .. Eternel..
Clock , statue and Cathedral of Amiens Photo M . Fauquet 2003The muse says those words to the French poet Alfred de Musset ( XiX th century ) in a famous poem " Night of May ". With her love she encourages him to write his verses . There are times where the inspiration is missing .
At the downtown of Amiens ( Northern France ) there is a monumental clock built with wrought iron at the beginning of the XXth century . At its basis is standing a bronze statue of a half naked woman . This woman looks like a muse . She inspires many people . Numerous couples come here to be pictured at her feet . And this under the kind look of Notre Dame ( Our Lady ) , the wonderful Gothic cathedral of Amiens built at the XIII th century and recently cleaned ..
Poetry , statue and cathedral inspire and are the fruit of the inspiration . A stream of inspiration . Eternal .
Comments (104)
beautiful and very inspiring~!
~janny
j'aimerais bien visiter Amiens un jour, Michel... vos photos sont toujours magnifiques!
Sometimes I wonder whether I´ll be able to see those views with my own eyes...
Very cool. I generally find most of Europe to be incredibly inspiring, it's rich history and past. I hope someday I can live in Europe, even if it's only for a little while. I love the culture, I love the people.
<3,
Aubrey
How beautiful....and inspiring!
I like it when you say that despite his muse, Mussett's inspiration is sometimes missing. That makes me want to look up the poems to see if I can see for myself the lack of inspiration
That clock looks like a work of art and craftsmanship that I don't think we'll be able to find today.
That's fantastic...very enlightening.
I have been around that Cathedral Michel , its very imposing to say the least . I think we will be giving Ireland a miss this year so you may get a visit from us later on in the summer
as I would love to go back to France again .
Bonjour, Michel!
I love your Christmas card. It was so beautiful. And it meant a lot to get one from you! Thank you so much! I am not sure if I have told you that already, but it never hurts to do so again!
This is a magnificent photo that you have shared. I find it so breathtaking. I think that we are all on that search to always find inspiration...It is what keeps us going. Without it, we are nothing but null voids. Inspiration is a wheel that must keep turning.
Have a wonderful week, my friend! God bless.
Simply put, beautiful!
Since when is "and me" French??!!
Thank you for sharing, I would love to go to Amiens. I'd also love to go to Rouen to see the town where Jeanne d'Arc drew her last breath.
Perhaps someday I will stand on that street and see with my own eyes these beautiful places.
Carol Suzanne
Awesome pics my friend!!
Happy New Year to you and your family!!!
De Musset was lucky to have some inspirations.
The Notre Dame church is also a poem written in stone and not in words.
Your photo is also composed like a poem. How did you get your inspiration?
Amitié
Carlo
yes very beautiful indeed!
A chacun sa muse, surtout ne pas arrêter d'écrire; car par l'écriture se transmettent richesse, partage et savoir. Elle est superbe, la Cathédrale d'Amiens. Je n'y ai jamais été, mais j'ai visité nombre de Cathédrales à style gothique dont la célèbre Notre-Dame de Paris et celle de Strasbourg. Mais je ne sais pas pourquoi elle me fait penser à Clovis. Où a-t-il été sacré?
Très belle horloge aussi.
Puisse l'inspiration jamais te manquer, Michel.
Merci de ton amitié continue.
Clara
I always learn so much here. Your posts inspire me, Michel.
beautiful and eternal...thank you very much...
Yes your picture of the Cathedral and the clock are very good. Lovely ornate decoration on the clock. Cathedrals never fail to move me.
This is a wonderful photograph you made! The sky and the old building there too. The clock is really beautiful.
Rosemary
Do you have a picture of you and Janine with the statue?
Happy New Year Michel, to you and Janine and your family too
Beautiful. For some reason, I think I've seen it before. I've been to France once a long time ago, but I doubt I saw it in person. Perhaps it was in a book.
-matt
Ton pays regorge de trésors!
I love how you take pictures of your country and explain a bit of history with each one!
xoxo Cat
formidable!
archetecture can do that for me - I will see a building or a clock or tower and feel the need to write what it makes me feel - just lovely! You said that perfectly
Ever read
Prayers of the Ark by Carmen Bernos de Gasztold?
France treats their poets better than us unculturaled anglo-saxons!
Looks and sounds like it would be a beautiful place to visit and get inspiration. I really enjoy the blogs you do about France. I'd love to visit someday.
That is one fancy clock! I have never read Musset; I must look him up. The Internet is so handy for looking up literary references.
I have never been to Amiens, but I have been to Paris and Giverny. Some day I hope to come back to La Belle France.
I only wish I could spend a moment in the beautiful culture of your country. How I envy you. I'm in love with everything you post.
I do hope you had a fabulous new years and that you are doing well. It has been snowing and freezing rain here, and we had a few disasters with trees falling over do to the ice. A branch landed on our roof! Thankfully, everyone is safe and warm, and we have yet to lose our power..unlike so many families have already.
<3
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! {{{HUGS}}}
Hello Michel. That is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with all us. How is life treatin ya? Were getting freezing rain here so will see what happens. Take care.
I love the clock. I love the scene. Muses need celebration, because we need our Muses.
This view in Amiens must be one of your favorites. I have a fondness for old timepieces. The clock is fabulous.
What a beautiful cathedral and clock. I went to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York several years ago..and I found that very inspiring. You asked me about singing in a choir - I am a soprano in St. Stanislaus Choir. Our choir in known around the area for its beautiful five part harmonies...as we are very fortunate to have descant, sopranos, altos, tenors and bass. I really enjoy it.
And your post was very inspiring as well, Michel!
It's amazing how some monuments, have the power to attract people in droves. 
There is definitely magic about them!
Very lovely. I can understand as I have a statue in my yard that overlooks a large flowerbed. The name of this statue is Bashful Youth. She, too, is half naked and stands looking shyly from under her arm. I've often been inspired by her.
as your words I read are art...so are the buildings in this picture...thank you for sharing...I collect clocks...so...this writing I liked...hope your holidays were wonderful...huggs...Sassy
See, I told you my French was *really* rusty!! Thanks for straightening me out
I remember the "me" now.
Beautiful photo!
RYC: Filipino is a primarily a Malay language with influence from Spanish and Chinese.
For example: "How are you?" in english is "Como esta?" in Spanish and is "Kumusta?" in Pilipino. The spelling is different but the pronunciation is similar between Spanish and Pilipino. Then there are the malay wordss like "sulat" which means letter. The corresponding Pilipino word is also "sulat" with exactly the same spelling. The chisese brought their food names to the Philippines. A steamed bun is called c'hao bao in one of the Chinese dialects and in the Philippines, we say "sio pao" which when said quickly, sounds very similar but just different spelling. The Spanisards may not have initially wanted to teach Filipinos spanish but they eventually saw Spanish being assimilated into the local dialects.
Other than the Psalms of the Bible, I haven't read much poetry. However, I read "The Hunchback Of Notra Dame." It took me two tries to get it accomplished. The first time I got bogged down with all the discription of how the cathedral was built. I managed to get through it the second time. What a tragic story. However, the building is beautiful.
merci beaucoup... that was beautiful and inspiring =)
Tres bien, how very beautiful! As usual, Michel, you are a master at presentation!
Very interesting Michel
Beautiful photo of a lovely place. Hanging head in shame... I have never visited France 
In my defense though, I have been to so many different parts of the British Isles and admired the wonders we have here too. [v} Marie
propz. lovin it paece.
Your xanga gets a large audience so I was hoping you could help by putting this link on your next entry and asking your viewers to do the same. Thanks so much.
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It’s not cool not to care.
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i love how you always write in french.
that may sound stupid..but i think its so beautiful.
i take classes in it and i love it.
You make me wish to see history again. There is so little of it here in Arizona. Of course, there are the ancient indian ruins--but not the beautiful buildings and art of more modern man. Everything here is 'new'. I will try to post pictures soon. It is time for a day trip.
j'aime votre emplacement! il fait frais!
) i took french last year... i didn't do that well but i thought it was a fun class!
ne way yea i love ur site!
--nykol
I wish I could understand the original version...
beautiful....
Hey sexy biatch, Hit me back
The clock looks very interesting! I would love to see a closer picture of it.
It's strange to think of the generations to come who will be inspired by that very view-the clock, the staue and Notre Dame.
Be well, my friend.
I <3 French sculptures and statues. The architecture is VERY beautiful.
Qu'est que ce un "siecle" un anglais?
More photos of your hometown...please.
beautiful.
i was almost able to read all of your entry on the top half before realizing it was translated into english on the bottom half. i admire you for writing in both languages.
Michel, I will spend some time on your site as I have never been to France and have so enjoyed your pictures and comments. It is amazing that clocks have been such a powerful influence through history. We visited an area of northeastern US referred to as New England during the Fall. Much of United States History is located in the New England area, and most of the town squares have old clocks that help to mark that history.
The two photos are a bit blurry, but nice nevertheless
So beatiful hope you and yours are in good health and haveing a wonderful new years God Bless.
Truly beautiful, aren't we fortunate to be living in Old Europe?
it's really beautiful.. where can i get my inspiration? will she help me?
inspirational and lovely. i love that picture!
wonderful gourge
thank you
i enjoy biology ok, i guess.
science was never my thing...im more of an arts/language person
Inspiration comes from so many places and one never knows when it is going to surface...
Nancy
How funny people are with things they like to do like when they go to Ireland they kiss the blarney stone, visitors here like to see the arid outback of nothingness, and a trip from Adelaide to Perth in Western Australia across the Nullabour desert is an experience ,we have travelled over by car 3 and a half days, 3 times and back twice by car same time with 2 overnight stops and one train journey that was interesting n and now one can get from one side of Oz to the other in same train ,and also one from Adelaide right up to Darwin. I would have liked to do that but too old and weak now. Love marjie
That's a beautiful clock! I loved walking around cathedrals when I was travelling. There's the serenity on the inside due to the coolness, darkness of the hall and the light through the windows.
Michel your site is inspiration in itself. You know we all love you. I need to come and sit at the feet of the muse in your picture. My inspiration (or muse) is hiding from me lately.
vous trouvez le logiciel "Microsoft Antispyware" bon? je l'aime bien.
helloooo again you said that you don`t understand me . this means that my french is very bad or am I wrong ?
in the picture I am at the left . my sweatshirt colour is red. ok write me again please
with love take care of yourself byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
)))
La cathédrale est très beau!
I never write very well with out inspiration
Lovely thought, to stand at that clock under the protection of Notre Dame!
What a beautiful work of art!
I wish you and your family, Michel, all the best for the months ahead. I appreciate your friendship. Cheers!!
As stunning as that cathedral is, it's the clock that I've fallen in love with in this photo! How ornate and intricate! I love it!
(Thank you for your concern, by the way - my heart is fine, I have an arryhthmia but the doctors are just being cautious
)
i love it
Gourge=Gourgous
It's beautiful, Michel! Amiens looks like a wonderful place for a visit! Cheers, Neil
These are beautiful things in the picture. You are lucky to be around such a place!
Thanks for stopping by and for the wishes. I hope to post more frequently in the future.
Your friend, TBB
Wow!
very unusual clock and statue.. I like your quote too, sometimes inspiration is missing- but the love of living can still be there even if words to tell about it are missing
Riva is doing ok. He is 60 years old and it is mamber of the staff of the italian soccer team.He is still a hero in Sardinia.
beautiful shot. if only the streets of america could be as elegant as the streets of europe
thanks for the compliment on my teeth on lumpiablog's site ^_~
Lovely.
What a beautiful clock. It looks like such a lovely place to live. Do you get much snow there in the winter? We actually had a little bit of snow last night, first of the winter season but it melted pretty quickly. Hope all is well and you are having a wonderful weekend!
you're so rad! thanks for sharing and being so beautiful!!!
I love how ornate the clock is and the cathedral is just exquisite! On my honeymoon we went to Monaco and the south of France. My husband and I were so taken by the richness, beauty and history of the architecture.
im goin to ethiopia to help with the Awasa Childrens Project which helps educated people on HIV/AIDS and promotes tolerance.
i love the pictures
I always love the pictures you post. The places are so beautiful and inspiring. It makes me jealous that I can't live there. Hope you have a great weekend and take care of yourself.
Poésie , statue , cathédrale inspirent et sont le fruit de l ' inspiration . Un courant d ' inspiration .. Eternel..
Magnifique cher Michel !
Encore tous nos meilleurs voeux pour l'an Nouveau
De retour à Stgt,
Amitiés, AM & JU
Hey just checking in to see how your doing. Take care. Love the clock.
Oui, je connais tres bien le " Tiramisu " I make it myself very often.
It is a cream made with eggs sugar and a Italian heavy creamy cheese called mascarpone ,some lady fingers soaked in coffee and marsala wine and all topped by a layer of chocolate.
It is not english trifle and not "zuppa inglese" that is made with crèma à l'angalise (custard) and cake soaked in liquors.
It is delicious and easy to make.
Bien à toi
Carlo
Great photo. Have been there many times and there is much about France that is inspiring. Blessings, kc
The clock is magnificant!! It is yet another thing that I wish I could view with my own eyes, as in with a lot of your blogs.
I love your deep thoughts on the eternal inspiration of poetry, clock and cathedral. It is an endless stream. Once again, thank you for the enlightening thought and taking me out of "my" world for a while to ponder on the inspirations in your blog.
Oh and thank you for thinking about me when you read the other site and her poem (which the name is escaping me at the moment). It was a very sweet and powerful poem. I am honored that it brought a rememberance of me when you read it. Truly honored.
Much love
sarah
You have to have humor cause life is too short to sweat the small stuff and life can be depressing if you let it. Soooooooo you have to have humor. If you cry you cry alone but if you laugh everyone laughs with you or at you. lololol. take care.
Je suis ici!!! Tu me manques trop!!! J'etais ici, mais j'ai travaille BEAuCOUP!!! J'aime bien ton photo du Fromage Fauquet!!! MMMmmmm....J'ai souhaite que Les EEUU eux ont. J'espere que tu et ton famille ont passe un joyeux noel et un BONNE annee!!
Amities,
Clementine
ps-MERCI beaucoup pour tes emails. J'ai oublie ton addresse pour envoyer la carte noel! Mais, j'en ai maintenant!
thanks for sharing this inspiration with us sir.
http://media.euniverse.com/www_castlemountains_net/images/01_2004/jan19a.gif
Love your opening line: "Poet take up your lute and give me a kiss." Amiens Cathedral is on my list of Favourite Architecture. Thanks to your tutoring and nudge, it went from the unknown to me to a favourite.
...inspiration, indeed, from poet, clock and catherdral and you are the inspired to see and share, your muse must have been on your shoulder - so stimulating! Thanks.
Merci, Michel. Je l'avais déjà lu dans le blog d'avant.
Je te souhaite une bonne semaine.
Clara
Every time this wandering person passes through I am fascinated. I'm going to have wander through more.
Maybe I should visit her so I can be inspired to write more!
What a very nice statue, amazing how is has stood all this time. It is gorgeous.
Michel, I could never forget you, and I am glad that you have not forgotten me. I have been busy, but I will try my best to visit you more often.
A beautiful (and clever) muse indeed! Michel, your posts are INSPIRING me to want to begin travelling again through France. But it's difficult to decide because there are also other places in Europe.....sigh.....I think I'll have to base the decision according to who has the best cheese
hehe
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