MAURIAC'S DAY
OCTOBER 11, 1885

The sun wanes on Mauriac
by his slim volume of verse
"Oranges" we read
in the back bench
of the class
never dreamed of being
in Paris near the Seine
tracing the  rainy riverbeds
with my breathing outlines
by margins of red wildflowers
whose aroma stays with me
all these years
winding over my poems
embarrassing me
at my own readings
in narrow winding streets
from many cities
of the universe
from your weary pages
Francois Mauriac
you live with me
in uncertain hours
at the French library.