Would Françoise carry
a message to my mother?
complex etiquette

missing my kiss,
I leave my heart with mother–
the stairs’ varnished smell

eyes glued to mother–
finding the exact spot
to place my kiss

Maulévrier’s handshake,
ignorance or cozenage?
Swann notes Saint-Simon

but three or four books
give importance this life–
newspaper’s wrapper

“nice neighbours”
Celine’s thanks to Swann–
case of Asti

forthcoming anguish
insulated from feeling–
iron table

Mother corners Swann
to ask of his daughter–
I follow

Swann’s the topic
of all thought and action–
I’ll miss my kiss

grand-generation
ruled by contrariness–
a bribe of Asti