Saul Bellow’s mild lemon light at Avenue Saint Denis.

Inspired by the phrase “A mild lemon light rinsed the street” from Humboldt’s Gift by Saul Bellow.

Is it the magic of the phrase

or the

smells

or the

tastes

or the

color?

Or is it

appealing or

recalling?

Or is it in

the words

only

the words?

Not able to define it

then as a child

neither now

considered adult.

The black and white picture

can’t be conclusive

on the color.

“La Caravelle”

bordering the river.

Its kitchen delivering

unequaled perfumed odors.

That young boy with

the delicate physiognomy

-the light, petrol green, sweater with the contrast of the vale grey squared trunks-

posing almost womanly

naked legs crossed.

The wasp stinging a thigh or

is it a knee fold?

Lingering memories.

An ordinary morning

in an equally ordinary

Delft canal street.

It’s back for the time of a

languishing thought

the Avenue Saint Denis

color

a half century ago.

A mild lemon light coloring the pavers

rinsing my eyes.