Blog Intermission no. 3 (entr’acte) An Island – Une Ile

Over the years I have visited many islands – some in France and other European countries, other in the United States and Canada, some in Asia, in Africa and some in the Caribbean. One of the pleasures of getting on in age is the delight of reflecting on all these trips. Some were close to where I lived, such as the Ile de la Cité, which is the little island where Notre Dame de Paris stands, and some were far away such as Koh Samui in Thailand.

L'île de la Cité, Michel Delacrois, French born in 1933

Some large islands like Vancouver Island , Prince Edwards Island and Newfoundland in Canada have become favorites but I also found a lot of charm in smaller islands like the island of Gorée (off the coast of Sénégal, Africa) Mykonos in Greece, Bali in Indonesia and Djerba in Tunisia.

Modern postcard purchased on the île de Gorée, Sénégal, Africa

There are still many islands I would like to explore such as Tahiti and Hawaii.

Road in Tahiti, Paul Gauguin, French 1848-1903

I hope to see some new islands this year, and if and when I do, I’ll share my pictures on future posts.

The Lofoten Islands, Norway (picture taken from the Web, author unknown)

If Once You Have Slept on an Island

If once you have slept on an island
You'll never be quite the same;
You may look as you looked the day before
And go by the same old name,

Caldy Island 1879, John Brett, English 1831-1902

You may bustle about in street and shop
You may sit at home and sew,
But you'll see blue water and wheeling gulls
Wherever your feet may go.

The island of Malta (photo taken last November 2009)

You may chat with the neighbors of this and that
And close to your fire keep,
But you'll hear ship whistle and lighthouse bell
And tides beat through your sleep.



Grand Bank Lighthouse (taken on the coast of Newfoundland in August 2008)

Oh! you won't know why and you can't say how
Such a change upon you came,
But once you have slept on an island,
You'll never be quite the same.

- Rachel Field, American, 1894-1942

St Pierre Island (taken on St Pierre et Miquelon Island – 2008)

Translation

Si vous avez dormi une fois sur un île…

Si vous avez dormi une fois sur une île
Vous ne serez plus vraiment la même;
Vous semblez être pareille que la veille
Avec les mêmes occupations et le même nom

Shores of Long Beach, Pacific Rim, BC, Canada
(modern postcard purchased on Vancouver Island)

Vous pouvez marcher vite dans les chemins
et entrer dans les magasins,
Ou vous reposer chez vous, à coudre,
Mais partout où vous irez, vous verrez des eaux bleues
Et des oiseaux crier.


Mykonos Island, Greece (modern postcard purchased on the island)

Avec vos voisins, vous allez parler de tout et de rien,
Ou rester près du feu,
Mais vous entendrez mugir les sirènes de navire
et sonner les cloches des phares,
Et les marées berceront votre sommeil.

sur une ile dans les Caraïbes (on an island in the Caribbean)

Oh! Vous ne saurez pourquoi, et ne pourrez expliquer comment,
Ce tel changement a eu lieu,
Mais une fois que vous avez dormi sur une île,
Vous ne serez jamais vraiment la même".

Rachel Field, Américaine,1894-1942



Mont St Michel 1868, William Stanley Aseltine, American 1835-1900

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