I have always been attracted to country girls
Possibly because I was a country lad and understood country ways There is something simple pale and fresh about them When I was a schoolboy I often swam quite naked With many of the girls from my village including my sister It was quite a natural thing to do on hot summer days and totally without guilt I add that I was not the only boy within this pastoral Shortly after I turned fourteen I received La Faute de l'Abbé Mouret From one of my mothers dottier friends My sister Josephine also received a copy of the Zola novel It was my first real introduction to Zola And it changed my perspectives totally I was already writing poetry But things slowly began to change I saw the tragedy of life In the novel Albine a simple country girl Takes her own life by poisoning herself Within the fumes of innocent flowers I was in love with Albine And hated the young priest Serge Mouret For what he had done to this innocent whimsical creature Even whilst enjoying our swims I began to think about What lay beneath the surface of our shallow meandering river The black currents so ready to take your life Within a year I had written Chrysalis Which was later lost (sadly only parts remain in my memory) I had arrived Joe was beginning his journey I am still travelling even as I write this memory Although she is busy I have asked Josie To share her thoughts about this important period of our lives I do hope that she finds time to do so Joe