The Lantern of Change
Poetry Celebration of the French Revolution
A lone lantern, held by a keeper, flickers on Paris' cobblestoned streets. It is an insignificant spark, but one that cannot be ignored. It wasn't--and that made wartime France what it is today.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
In Paris, on its streets gone cold,
Michel lit a lantern
Its flame flickered, its glow bold.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
Roads cried "Revolt!"
Tearing at seams;
Shaking under weight of bolts
Carriages with dreams.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
They peeked out from bolted doors
Some did scorn, while others looked--
As Michel walked, light danced dark
Shone on rot, on stone.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
He called for change, called not for arms--
For awareness, not revenge;
The city heard, with hands, not ears
They repaired with truth, not fear.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
The roads of Paris, they still gleamed
Not with blood outpoured;
But lanterns, glowing, at each door
Bringing change assured.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
Michel was but a dream that spoke
But Paris heard, still shone;
New lanterns blazed, their fire stoked-
Rife over rough-hewn stone.
🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
In honour of the Liberation of France this day, August 25th, 1944. Original poem by Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin. AI tags are coincidental.
For all things August and Mikeydred's August prompt.
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About the Creator
Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin
Hi, i am an English Language teacher cum freelance writer with a taste for pets, prose and poetry. When I'm not writing my heart out, I'm playing with my three dogs, Zorra, Cloudy and Snowball.
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Comments (4)
Another cracker, and I really do need to check out Mike's prompt 😁
This was absolutely powerful! I loved it!
Loved this!
I love how you’ve taken something as small as a lantern and turned it into a symbol of resilience and hope.