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Memories Of Québec City (très très honorable et seulement pour ADULTES)

                               

 

People think that Québec is a historic and interesting city,
Full of Froggy speaking trappers and sophisticates,
With the only marginally decent food in North America
And some really good tourist trap artists on the pavements.
But there is another side to this Canadian paradise:
Believe me, I know, I was there about 15 years ago
And I have seen it in all its indescribable nausea.

I was dancing in the bar of the Château Frontenac,
With my left-hand thumb about four inches up my lady companion's arsehole,
When a hideous noise erupted in the goddam corridor
Fuck me, it was a group of demented Korean tourists
(part of the International Round Table of Rotarians)
And they rushed into that cosy little dance bar,
Dragging my parents (who watched my groping with awe) off into the night.

Those nasty Asiatic mothers left my elderly Mum and Dad 100% decapitated,
Their poor weak skulls sent flying over the 70s carpet in the lobby.
And why? Was it just because my poor parents could have done with a shower?
I really don't know but they smelled fairly OK to me (I suppose).
But it rather casts doubt upon the myth of the "Good Canadian"
Dear God, I shall head for a Rotarian-free zone in the future.
 

                                

Author notes

This is the 11th in my series of "Memories" poems. I have selected the colours blue and white as they reflect the colours of the beautiful fleur-de-lys Québecois flag, plus red for the blood which got shed that tragic day plus black to indicate death.

This poem is dedicated to ANLY STEDE for all his/her kind encouragement of my puny poetic strivings. And (s)he has translated the poem into Québec French! Here it is...

L’monde pense que Québec c't une ville historique et intéressante,
Remplis d’trappeurs et d’sophistiqués qui sonnent comme des grenouilles quand ils parlent,
Avec la seule bouffe dans l’Amérique du Nord qui est marginalement pas-pire
Et quelques très bons artistes attrape-touristes dans les rues.
Mais y’a une autre face à ce paradis Canadien :
Croyez-moi, j’le sais, j’y étais y’a d’ça à peu près 15 ans
P’is j’l’ai vu dans toute son écoeuranterie pas décrivable.

J’étais en train d’danser dans l’bar du Château Frontenac,
Avec mon pouce gauche rentré à peu près 4 pouces dans l’derrière d’ma compagne,
Quand un son dégueulasse fit irruption dans l’câlisse de corridor
Hé tabarnac, c’était un groupe de touristes Coréens fou-bracs
(membres de la Table Ronde Internationale des Rotarians)
P’is ils sont entrés en déchaînés dans ce chaleureux p’tit bar de danse,
S’sont emparés d’mes parents (qui r’gardaient mes tripotages tous respects désireux)
En les traînant au loin dans la nuit.

Ces méchants cinglés Asiatiques ont laissé ma vieille mère et mon vieux père décapités à 100%,
Leurs pauvres crânes frêles lancé à bouts-d’bras par-dessus l’tapis (style années 70) du hall d’entrée.
Et pour quelle raison? Est-ce seulement parce que mes pauvres parents auraient pu bénéficier d’une douche?
J’le sais réellement pas mais, tant qu’à moi, ils sentaient passablement corrects (J’suppose).
Mais ça rend plutôt douteux l’mythe du « Bon Canadien »
Doux Seigneur, j’me dirigerai vers une zone sans Rotarians à l’avenir.
************************************************

If you want to read the previous ten in the series (and you really should) go to http://allpoetry.com/poem/2401305 to start off really well.

No. 12 is now online at http://allpoetry.com/poem/3145104 - but it's not for the squeamish!

If you are keen on things Canadian, read about the horrid happenings in Alberta by clicking here:- http://allpoetry.com/poem/3173182 !

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Comments

1 - 24 of 24
  • Ah, Quebec... Quelle belle ville, avec ses animaux et les choses bizarres. Nous sommes tous comme renaud.

    Translation: It may suck less than Ottawa, but it still sucks.

    Bravo!


    • Barry Hodges silver member
      July 27
      Edit | Reply
      And which part of Canada do you live in? I could well have suffered a tragedy there and would be delighted to write a poem about if (provided I can stem the tears long enough). Montréal? Toronto? Vancouver? Georgian Bay? Niagara-on-the-Lake? Lodnon? Waterloo? Hull? I have suffered horrors in all of them.

      • I grew up in Toronto, then moved to that shithole called Ottawa for 4 years and am now back home. I've been to tons of places in Canada though, so let me know of you ever need cannon-fodder.

        PS: Just a heads-up, Newfoundland will be the most fun one to write about. It's the crudest, rudest province of them all (besides Quebec, that is); they have the most sexually-active population in the entire bloody country, and they've even got their own dictionary!


        • Barry Hodges silver member
          July 27
          Edit | Reply
          I seem to recall a horrible encounter with a Newfie dog on the main staircase of the Royal York Hotel....

          • Oh, you poor thing. But that's funny... My dear old Mum used to work at the Royal York, but that was before I came along and ruined all her plans. I think her asshole ex-husband must've been the slobbering thing you encountered there.

            My great-uncle in Newfoundland once told me a story about them Newfie dogs. He kinda mumbles, so I don't know what the story was... What I heard, however, was that Ricky Martin lost his false-teeth in the Atlantic, and a Newfie-dog jumped in to get them for him. The scary part was, everyone in the car heard the exact same thing.

            Makes you wonder, no? There's something to write about.


  • Nothing But No
    June 30, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    I'm sorry I didn't comment on this earlier in the day I had to go to work but my my I was certainly not expecting this. Very few people are able to capture the utter and complete disappointment in Quebec like you have here, believe me I know your horrors well. This was fabulous and the detail and description made it perfect. On to Alberta!


  • TabbyCat
    March 27, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    Whoah. I was appalled..not sure how to react...hoping this is fabricated, fearing that it's not. Thanks for entering and shocking me awake.


  • natchstucco
    January 27, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    That is a unusual turn of events. Usually that is what the french do to the western Canadians once they find out we dont speak french. They have Sign police and Language cops that patrol the alleys and restaurants looking for the signs and the poor souls who think bilingualism is in Quebec. lol.

  • Judith Chandler
    November 28, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    Quebec City - I think I may have copulated there once with a rather uncouth young man who liked to get into trouble. I could write about it but it would be tame compared to your memoirs.

    Wish I could read the French. As a Canadian I would like to point out that the decapitating Koreans weren't residents here so you can't blame Canada (that was the name of a recent song) But you have made me laugh again.


  • Sonja
    October 16, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    What a nice and interesting poem/memories! You left me speechless because we are all waiting only for a nice memories of our trips. So sad, so sad...
    ~Sonja~

    • Barry Hodges silver member
      November 28, 2007
      Edit | Reply
      I have only just seen your comment (I have been busy attending a large number of family funerals). My parents were both ugly and spotty and I do not miss them much, but thank you for the thought. Where do you live - I am sure I have been there and one of my relatives was murdered during my visit. I could dedicate the poem to you for a small fee of 100 points. I would even bargain and do it for less, at a pinch.

      • Sonja
        December 1, 2007

        Edit | Reply
        Thank you for your kind offer, but thank you, you do not need to write a poem to me. If you need points I can send you some as a friendly help. And I think that you've never been in my country. Just stay where you are.
        ~Sonja~

        • Barry Hodges silver member
          December 1, 2007
          Edit | Reply
          I see you are from Croatia. You are correct: I have not visited there yet (although I once kissed a Croatian girl in London shortly before she was hit by a bus).


  • ellipsist
    October 14, 2007
    Edit | Reply

    I am not sure what

    "Québec" is supposed to spell, but it is irritating to try to read!

    I have read some of your series before, and really, all the pieces seem kind of alike to me... the first few were entertaining and I am sorry that I had no clever comments to make about the pieces, but the charm has kind of worn off after those first few... thanks for sharing anyway!


  • cafegroundzero gold member
    July 9, 2007

    Edit | Reply

    Mon Dieu! Sorry to read bout yer dear auld Mum n Dad

    I chose to read your take on Cité de Quebec, as my old dear wife and first daughter have some very nice memories of travelling there by train from Montreal. We rented a car, and stayed on the island just down river, where folk raise strawberries, where there's an old museum with a boatworks, where you can learn about navegation as it used to be before the age of the steamship.

    We went to a cabane du sucre, or a sugar shack you might say in English. There, you get as you say, marginally decent food, but also rather good entertainment with audience participation, where everyone dances in a congo line and clacks these wooden clackers as we sing folk and pop songs in French.

    A good time was had by all, rest assured.

    You didn't any chance travel east to New Brunswick did you sir?

    • Barry Hodges silver member
      November 28, 2007
      Edit | Reply
      I have only just seen your comment (I have been busy attending a large number of family funerals). My parents were both ugly and spotty and I do not miss them much, but thank you for the thought. Where do you live - I am sure I have been there and one of my relatives was murdered during my visit. I could dedicate the poem to you for a small fee of 100 points. I would even bargain and do it for less, at a pinch.


  • Anly Stede
    July 7, 2007

    Edit | Reply

    Souvenirs d'la Ville de Québec


    L’monde pense que Québec ç’t’une ville historique et intéressante,
    Remplis d’trappeurs et d’sophistiqués qui sonnent comme des grenouilles quand ils parlent,
    Avec la seule bouffe dans l’Amérique du Nord qui est marginalement pas-pire
    Et quelques très bons artistes attrape-touristes dans les rues.
    Mais y’a une autre face à ce paradis Canadien :
    Croyez-moi, j’le sais, j’y étais y’a d’ça à peu près 15 ans
    P’is j’l’ai vu dans toute son écoeuranterie pas décrivable.

    J’étais en train d’danser dans l’bar du Château Frontenac,
    Avec mon pouce gauche rentré à peu près 4 pouces dans l’derrière d’ma compagne,
    Quand un son dégueulasse fit irruption dans l’câlisse de corridor
    Hé tabarnac, c’était un groupe de touristes Coréens fou-bracs
    (membres de la Table Ronde Internationale des Rotarians)
    P’is ils sont entrés en déchaînés dans ce chaleureux p’tit bar de danse,
    S’sont emparés d’mes parents (qui r’gardaient mes tripotages tous respects désireux)
    En les traînant au loin dans la nuit.

    Ces méchants cinglés Asiatiques ont laissé ma vieille mère et mon vieux père décapités à 100%,
    Leurs pauvres crânes frêles lancé à bouts-d’bras par-dessus l’tapis (style années 70) du hall d’entrée.
    Et pour quelle raison? Est-ce seulement parce que mes pauvres parents auraient pu bénéficier d’une douche?
    J’le sais réellement pas mais, tant qu’à moi, ils sentaient passablement corrects (J’suppose).
    Mais ça rend plutôt douteux l’mythe du « Bon Canadien »
    Doux Seigneur, j’me dirigerai vers une zone sans Rotarians à l’avenir.


    version Québécoise de "Memories of Québec City" pour vous - merci xx



  • belly
    July 1, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    I'm not sure, but is "cosy" supposed to be "cozy". I could've sworn it was, but I'm really tired tonight and am not a great spelling champion myself lol. There is such an awkward (intentionally so, I imagine) feeling to this piece, all in a good way, with some strong imagery to back it all up. Thank you for entering. Already too great entries that I've enjoyed immensely.

    • Barry Hodges silver member
      July 2, 2007
      Edit | Reply
      "Cosy" is the English spelling; "cozy" is American. The cosiness is a poetic counterpoint to the mindless brutality which resulted in my parents' deaths at the hands of the Korean Rotarians.

  • Anly Stede
    July 1, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    lol a real carnage... people need to know the truth! I know, I remember this tragedy in the news - it was terrible; too terrible.

    Heart and thoughts to you for the trauma

    ps: she's humbled for the dedication xx




    • Barry Hodges silver member
      July 2, 2007
      Edit | Reply
      The local tourist board tried to cover up the incident but the chateau carpets still bear the stains.

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