Master of the House

Victor Hugo’s “Les Misérables” was published in 1862. The Siege of Paris occurred from 1870 – 1871. This painting is dated 1875. Les Misérables the musical premiered in 1980 in Paris. I had a little fun trying put them all together.

This is an after poem – in homage to, in conversation with, and inspired by the source below. More of my ekphrastic poetry here.

Eugène Isabey, *Country Tavern, Feasting* (1875). Oil on canvas. Image in the public domain: Source

^{After “Master of the House” from Les Misérables: lyrics: Herbert Kretzmer adapted from the French lyrics by Alain Albert Boublil & Jean-marc Natel. Music Claude-Michel Schönberg}

Welcome, Monsieur, you want canapés ?
Don’t mind the chickens. Some chicken pâté?
Can’t guarantee it will be haute cuisine.
Best have wine now. Maybe best to have three?
Madame, you’ll love to have soup of the day:
onions and lentils, and then cassoulet.
Remember the Siege – how charming your hat –
when we ate mule, and fricassee of rat?

Don’t mind the children. Dogs might have fleas.
Then again, might not. Oh Madame, I tease.
Ragout and tripe? You want hot pot-au-feu?
Wife’s cooking it now – she stripped it of spurs.
Welcome, Monseiur, you are smart as Voltaire.
Snails, oysters, cheeses, just brush off the hair.
Ouf, gone are the days of the Paris siege.
Compared to zoo bears, c’est gastronomie!

Hello!

Master of the House – A Poem