PARADIS LATIN

This weekend,

I carefully unwrapped

my Christmas present candle,

& the fragrance of Astier de Villatte's

Paradis Latin

now fills the room:

"Under the historic dome of the Paradis Latin, 

overlooking the room meticulously prepared for the dinner-show, 

the artists’ dressing rooms are abuzz. 

The slow metamorphosis of frivolous Marquises, 

of rustling cancan dancers, 

of bird-men, 

of rhinestone-winged archangels in a whirlwind of fragrances 

of naked skin, 

of powder, 

of lipstick, 

of glittering make-up. 

A delicious perfume invades the cabaret." 

Their descriptions are so delicious

that the imagination immediately

begins its role play 

~ I see white powder on shoulders,

blush tulle against bare skin,

feather ornaments reflected in mirrors,

sequins glittering & getting trampled under gold shoes

 against a creaky, worn herringbone floor,
clouds of perfume in the air...

And the lingering scent touches on memories 

~ milky white talcum powder 

against my baby son's velvet skin,

my grandmother getting out her powder puff 

& coral lipstick

from the sideboard drawer,

a sun beam trapped in the corner

of the bevelled mirror on the wall,

as she gets ready to go out.  

x