songe

Our totally off-topic photo-du-jour: "Italian Wine Cooler". Picture taken in Alba, if I remember correctly. Note: no need to edit the photo captions. Photos will  not appear with the chapters.

Songe
 

(sohnzh)

noun, masculine 

   dream
          

A Restless Writer Dreams
When William Faulkner, famous American novelist, poet and Nobel Laureate, came to stay with us here at the farm, I offered him a fold-out cot.

I could have offered him our bed,
but, you know,
he got the other instead.

As for my lack of fuss
(no guest towel, no pillow, no spare toothbrush),
who knew I was hosting a literature buff?

That's when it finally dawned on me
that there, in a cap and a long white nightie,
was a 20th Century celebrity!

Oh Glory be, there were we...
Faulkner, yours truly
and several bottles of eau-de-vie.

"Your imagination is good," said he....
 
"But we haven't got all night,
so pull up a chair
and I'll teach you to write!"

That's when so many tablets,
not of stone...
but of wood chips,


appeared out of nowhere
to receive the writer's
savoir-faire.

Then, like Moses channeling words from above,
Faulkner wrote down truths on how to write without fear—
and always with love!

And though his words were addressed to a restless writer, 
they are dear to everyman—
so get out your highlighter!

Here is the wisdom that the prize-winning author wrote down,
on wood chips, no less,
for there wasn't any holy stone lying around!

He said:

"(one)...must teach himself that the basest of all things is to be afraid; and, teaching himself that, forget it forever, leaving no room in his workshop [âme*] for anything but the old verities and truths of the heart..." He went on to say that it is a human "...privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glory of his past."

Fast, fast, fast...
I copied down the writer's words
but the clarity of my dream wouldn't last.

By the time I awoke,
my memory bank
was flat broke.

I was still the restless writer that I had always been,
without any special favors
from the man with the golden pen.

                               *     *     *

Post note: While the dream, above, was vividly real, the two excerpts, in the penultimate paragraph above, were taken from William Faulkner's acceptance speech for the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature.


French Vocabulary

le lit = bed

l'eau-de-vie (f) = brandy

le savoir-faire = know-how, expertise

l'âme (f) = soul

 

====Note: any text from here, on, will not be included in the book.=====

Your edits here, please!

Update! The format of the above story was radically changed (see the previous version at the end of this post!), following Nancy's helpful suggestion (see comments box). That said, I am not sure about including this story in the book compilation. Please don't be shy, send me your thoughts.

And thank you for continuing to search this story for any typos or blips or inconsistencies in formatting. I appreciate your efforts! Click here to submit corrections.

 

===And text beyond this point will not appear in the book===

If you love writing and France you may enjoy these books: A Writers Paris: A Guided Journey For The Creative Soul & Literary Paris: A Guide


:: Audio File ::
Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce these French words:
Songe. L'espérance est le songe d'un homme éveillé.
Download songe.mp3
Download songe.wav

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Related Terms & Expressions:
  en songe = in a dream
  faire un songe = to have a dream
  un songe-creux = a visionary
  songer = to dream
  la songerie = reverie
  songeur, songeuse = pensive (adj.); dreamer (noun)

 Here is the previous version of the story

A Restless Writer Dreams
When William Faulkner, famous American novelist, poet and Nobel Laureate, came to stay with us here at the grape farm, I offered him a fold-out cot. I could have offered him our bed, but, you know, he got the other instead.

As for my lack of fuss (not a guest towel, pillow or spare toothbrush), who knew I was housing a literature buff? That's when it finally dawned on me that there, in a cap and long white nightie, was a 20th century celebrity!

Oh Glory be, there were we...
Faulkner, yours truly ...and several bottles of eau-de-vie.
(Thank God neither of us was tipsy!)

"Your imagination is good," said he. But we haven't got all night, so, if you like, pull up a chair and I'll teach you to write!

That's when so many tablets, not of stone but of wood chips, 
appeared out of nowhere to receive the writer's savoir-faire.
Then, like Moses channeling words from above,
Faulkner wrote down truths on how to write without fear—
and always with love!

And while his words were addressed to a restless writer, they are dear to everyman—so get out your highlighter! 

Here is the wisdom that the prize-winning author wrote down, on wood chips, no less, for there wasn't any holy stone lying around. He said:

"(one)...must teach himself that the basest of all things is to be afraid; and, teaching himself that, forget it forever, leaving no room in his workshop [âme*] for anything but the old verities and truths of the heart..." He went on to say that it is a human "...privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glory of his past."

Fast, fast, fast... I copied down the writer's words but the clarity of my dream wouldn't last. By the time I awoke, my memory bank was flat broke. I was still the restless writer that I had always been, without any special favors from the man with the golden pen.

In books: The Bilingual Edge: Why, When, and How to Teach Your Child a Second Language 

Comments

[Carmen Clarke]

Hi Kristin
I like this story, but I did not get the part about 'implied footsie.' No other issues. Cute. I wish he would come to my dreams,too!

[Dawn Bouchard]

Ditto Carmen's comment ... the 'unexpected' twist of it being a dream is wonderful is a nice surprise :)

[Kristin Espinasse]

Thank you Dawn and Carmen! Carmen, I didnt get implied footsie either (never mind that I wrote the story! But it was a few years ago...) Ill need to edit that part (re implied footsie - I had been referring back to thank goodness we didnt get tipsy ... which might have led to footsie! But the reference is too obscure -- so out it will go!

[Jules Greer]

This is great - no one ever likes to hear another's recount of a dream (but to teach that we can style our dreams into our writing is something I had never thought of doing.)

Oh! The dreams I had last night!!! I think some of my medication intensifies and gives dreams a dream's feeling of entitlement to do whatever it wants. Kind of like a writer.

I am off to decide how to incorporate photo's into this book.

THE DIRECTOR!
XOXO
JULES

[Charles Orr in Flat Rock, NC]

Just a couple of comma quibbles, not that I could improve on either you or Faulkner:

1. I would insert one after "bed": I could have offered him our bed, but, you know, he got the other instead.

2. Also, would suggest a comma after "night" and after "chair":
But we haven't got all night, so, if you like, pull up a chair, and I'll teach you to write!

[Kristin Espinasse]

Thank you, Charles, for your help. Ill get these fixes in tomorrow morning. Time to hit the sack!

Im thinking of removing this story from the collection. Well see...

[nancy Rial]

My, you are a brave lady to ask for public editing! I read the "Sapin" first, and having no helpful comments for that posting (well done, and heartwarming) went on to read this one. (got it right away that JM should have paid more for the tree- Americans are used to everything being over the top!)
Anyway, liked this posting also, but you might consider the text taking more of the shape of poetry lines since there are so many rhyming sounds. If that were done, though, one line that could add an extra "beat", would be: "I could have offered him our bed, but, you know, he got the other (lit) instead." Using the French word here adds emphasis, but avoids repetition of bed. Have fun sorting through all the picky ideas.

[Bettye Dew]

Faulkner won the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature but, in an unusual twist, he didn't receive it until 1950. Still, to me it's important to say that the words come from his acceptance speech for the 1949 Nobel Prize.

In your post note, you might consider saying: While the dream I shared was vividly real, the two excerpts, in the penultimate paragraph above, were taken from William Faulkner's acceptance speech for the 1949 Nobel Prize in Literature.

[Faye]

Hi Kristin,

I knew it was a dream when you said you offered him "a cot". Come on, that has to be a dream!

Lovely story, please keep it. It is encouraging and hopeful. We all have to deal with fear.

Thanks

[Kristin Espinasse]

Thank you, Nancy, for your suggestion to reformat this piece. Ive taken the plunge--and done it. 

Bettye, the info you shared is very helpful--Ive updated the text.

Faye, thank you for your vote to keep this one! 

[Jules Greer]

I always loved this story, even if it was a little rough in the beginning (sp?). I love your attempt at writing poetry, don't we all wish to do this at one time or another in our lives. Now that you have cleaned it up I feel your talent more clearly. Also, I love the inset of his advice to writers and I have always thought this was such an important breakthrough for you at this time in your life because his words have affected (or is it effected?) your core of writing along with your own personal heart.

I think the title of the story should be rethought-Dream is too vague. How about something along the line of how valuable dreams can be in your writing...

Aside from all of that I used to nag you to always keep a notepad and pencil on your bedside table for just this purpose. We have all experienced brilliant thoughts in our dreams - we should always try to record these words and ideas as they are one of the treasures of life.

XOXO

JULES

[Jules Greer]

My Dearest Nancy,

I just had a quick peek at your web-site -

Your opening video is so powerful, my breath caught in my throat and I exhaled "Oh My God!"

I don't have time at this very moment, but I will be back to your site to savor all that you have created. I will be in touch with you after this train ride.

XOXO

JULES

[Jane Woodside]

I've read many of your stories without comment because they are lovely little gems, a great review for me and needed nothing further in my view. However, I do not think this one is up to the standard of the others. Perhaps this reflects my belief (and resulting bias) that far more people are interested in the experience of living in a foreign culture and sharing the small and great adventures of family life, than care to hear more about the travails of a writer's life. Notwithstanding, this is something many writers seem to throw into their work anyway so it's very hard to have a unique approach.

[Kristin Espinasse]

Hello Jane, Im so glad you wrote, to help me decide whether or not to include this one. I woke up this morning with the mission to remove it from the collection! (even if my mom thinks it is a turning point: for when words began to shift along this writing journal. But, unlike poetry, when I read the piece--nothing sings to me. So out it goes! (Sorry Mom! You are still THE BEST book director :-)

[Maureen]

@ Jules: no apostrophe before the plural s!!
"I am off to decide how to incorporate photo's into this book."

xx Maureen

[Betty Gleason with blue pencil in hand]

Ah,too late. Like the revisions though to more poetry. What were those guidelines again for this book?

[Stacy ~ Applegate, Oregon]

Oh, I've always loved this one, but as I see, out it goes! xoxo