Along The Seine
A letter of Petit Paris 03
Hi, Hi!
“ How are you today?… Imagine you can walk along the Seine every morning, in the afternoon or at night, what do you think? To me? dream...dream...dream...I wish I could!
The Seine. I have painted it all my life, at all hours of the day, in all seasons, from morning till night.
~ Claude Monet (1840-1926)
* Walk with me *
You can skip all the famous tourist spots, but never the Seine, & there is no way you would, I’m sure. It is a sunny day, I take a break at Pont Neuf after a long walk. The 1st arrondissement is where my hotel is. The name of Pont Neuf is also the bridge I’m standing on, waiting for the fascinating twilight moment. After office hours, les garçons (the waiters) are busy to set up the outdoor dining tables along the riverbank. Vedettes du Pont Neuf are ready to greet locals & tourists for their boat trip... It's just the beginning of night shows far & near when people around are ready to loosen up a bit, the vibe tells. Scenery, cuisine, wine, music & evening breeze ...all you can imagine are so welcoming... Then, out of a sudden, a shower arrives without alarm, together with crazy wind smack into the grey, cold and sharp. I have nothing except my blanket scarf, so I run to look for a shelter. People are screaming with laughter, it's funny, it’s messy and yet lovely! The chaos doesn't last long, within 10 mins, the flying table clothes, napkins & patio umbrella halt. When I look up, a clear twilight blue merges into the golden kisses of Pont Neuf… I’m enthralled on the bridge again. It’s incredible to experience the dramatic weather in Paris within minutes. There are always the magical hours for me to dive in, whether in a morning haze, an enchanting sunset or a starry night...all along the Seine within a day, I’m content!
🐦 This is an edited version of a ‘Behind The Scenes Blog Post’ of my ebook Petit Paris. Originally published on my official Author website, as Along The Seine; feel free to visit.
* A Poem for you *
(Tanka ~ is one of the major genres of classical Japanese literature. It is a lyric poem consisting of exactly 31 syllables spread across five lines in a 5-7-5-7-7 pattern.
La Seine
Pearl white sheet afloat Tangerine spectra shimmer Golden dust sprinkle Mine o’ mine in magic hours Engulf in serenity
©Oiseau Distrait , Summer 2026
*Little Thought*
La Seine is like a ribbon tying up all the major spots in Paris. Even if you pass by every day, you’ll never get tired of those magical hours reflecting on the river. Compared with the Eiffel Tower, the Seine is a far more fascinating muse that I urge to greet each morning.
There is a song about this river in the film La La Land, when Emma Stone attends her audition, which I’d like to share with you (excerpt of the lyrics).
Leapt, without looking
And tumbled into the Seine
The water was freezing
She spent a month sneezing
But said she would do it again…… Here’s to the me who dream
Foolish as they may seem…
(Sorry for the ad within. Video Source: Movieclip, Lyric Source: LyricFind.com)
Song composer: Justin Hurwitz
Songwriter: Benji Pasek/ Justin Noble Paul
Performed by Emma Stone
Lyrics©Warner Chappell Music, Inc. Universal Music Publishing Group
I guess this song is another reason for my obsession with the Seine, “...those who dream as I, like a fool as they may seem...but a bit of madness is key...”
Here it is, I hope you enjoy this visit to the Seine.
Stay tuned! À bientôt!
~Oiseau🐦 If my words resonate & my picture echoes with you. Stay! As long as you please, be my guest.
🐦 If you like this post, you can Buy Me A Coffee to support my writing
