The Survivor

           That was the year
                       we wintered in
         Montparnasse. The 
                ferry, I remember, 
           was empty apart
                 from us, might never 
                    have sailed except 
              its skipper lived 
                               on the other side 
                      of the river & she 
                            wanted to get 
             home that night. Up-
                stream was thick
                   with forest. There
                       were fireworks 
             somewhere. I heard 
                            them, but I did not 
                     see their bloom.