gardener’s daughter
on a thirst-quenching sortie–
liquorice water

passing Combray
on the way to manoevres
cavalry ride

hours pass
squeezed beyond recognition–
book’s fascination

a book’s location
with a woman I love–
conquest of truth

Combray garden heat–
longing for a land of
mountains and rivers

in the guise of truth
emotions multiplied ten-fold–
novel comes to life

“real people”
live in a book
only through images

hooded chair
under the chestnut tree–
hidden in a book

chorus of flies,
chamber music of summer–
daylight captured

kitchen-maid
makes Francoise shine–
hot water as coffee