See Paris First

SEE PARIS FIRST

Suppose what you fear,
could be trapped,
and held in Paris.

Then you would have the courage,
to go everywhere in the world.

All the directions of the compass,
open to you,
except the degrees east or west,
of true north,
that lead to Paris.

Still, you wouldn’t dare,
to put your toes smack dab,
on the city limit line.

And you’re not really willing to stand on a mountainside,
miles away,
and watch the Paris lights,
come up at night.

And just to be on the safe side, you decide to stay completely,
out of France.
 
But then danger,
seems too close,
even to those boundaries,
and you feel the timid part of you,
covering the whole globe again.

 

You need the kind of friend,
who learns your secret and says,
“See Paris first.”

 

—M. Truman Cooper