Théophile Duverger, French
“Well, That’s Very Thoughtful, Esther. But In My Experience With Groundhog Day, People Don’t Generally Give Them As Gifts,” Date Unknown
Oil on panel
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Info, or links that point to more info, about this artist can be found here, here, here, here (if truncated, can be read in full for free on Fridays), here, here, here, here, and here, perhaps in addition to what’s in his Wikipedia page (Google translated French Wikipedia page may have more).
/// Véronique finds this chore most unpleasant;
to examine what maid calls The Present.
But she cannot ignore
what was left at her door.
In the basket’s the child of a peasant.
/// The babe’s mother abandoned her kid.
Dropped the basket and then ran and hid.
Then the child loudly cried
so maid brought him inside.
Does his Mum now regret what she did?
/// It was known Véronique took in strays.
Did they really expect her to raise
illegitimate brats?
Much more work than some cats.
Then the child smiled and captured her gaze.
/// And like that, Véronique changed her mind.
To look after him she was resigned.
He grew up in her care
and she later would swear,
“He’s the best unpaid drudge one could find.”
/// As a Christian, she showed the child pity,
just as when she takes in a stray kitty.
If things hadn’t worked out
he’d have gone, without doubt,
to a workhouse she knows in the city.
/// All who live in her home have to work.
If they do, they get fed (as a perk).
Should the Mistress determine
that a cat won’t kill vermin,
it gets drowned in the well for that quirk.
/// “Please believe me, we’ve done this before.
Here’s The Present. Gift tag on the floor.
This whole day just repeats,
(like your cucumber treats).
This is Groundhog Day two forty-four.”
> or <
/// Her ex-husband gave her this hand-basket,
and, though she’s been insulted, she’ll mask it.
It’s his way (she would know)
to tell her “where to go.”
She’ll get even— brimstone in his casket.
“Yes, ma’am, when the tornado hit, your aunt, Miss Almira Gulch, was heading home on her bicycle. This basket is all that was recovered. Apparently, as you can see (and smell), at some point a small animal had relieved itself inside.”