I wouldn’t have her
not go.
Not for a moment.
There is nothing for her
here in this small, choking town
that thinks and knows of nothing beyond itself.
That time-baked city, Cezanne-tinted,
and all its faces, voices, promises
are hers, hard-earned and long awaited.
And in this quiet morning
I wrap her leaving round me;
feel its weight, and breathe.
After a protracted and stressful process, our daughter has finally been granted her student visa and can head off on Sunday to Aix-en-Provence for her third year of undergrad study, which she’s doing at Aix-Marseille University (the largest in France, with around 80,000 students). We’ll miss her terribly, of course; but I’m certain it’ll be a transformative experience for her, and I’m beyond delighted she’s taking this amazing opportunity. Bon voyage, ma chère fille.