She wasn’t well
A friend took her in
Gave her a room at the inn next door
A venerable hotel
Room at the top to live in
A table chair and bed
And a window that looked out
On the church of Notre Dame
Safe haven now in troubled times
Respite from her stress
A place to sleep
A desk to write
Books downstairs to read
And from her window
There to see
The church of Notre Dame
The quiet presence eternally
Mother of Christ and France
One day that church would fiercely burn
Its ancient steeple fall
Perhaps a fire so fierce
They would not save the wall
Parisians and all of France
And all the world looked on
Will we save this ancient place?
Or will it meet its doom
The church is saved
It will be rebuilt
Its glory rise again
And the girl at the hotel window
Recovered and is well again
Brian Fahy
14 March 2022
+ During a period of severe mental crisis the writer Jeanette Winterson found comfort in the kindness of a friend, who gave her a place to stay in Paris, fed her and looked after her. A little room with a view became for a while her home and her safe place.
Erris Poetry 