Pierre Clémenti, movie star, 1942–1999

By Gerard Malanga

Pierre,
You came & went.
A wake of silences abound.
Your voice–over lost among the pitter–patter rain against the café
window.
Our eyes crossed
each other on the wet–laden street.
Was this Paris ? Yes,
it feels like Paris attacked by autumn winds & greyless skies.
A chill enshrined by hands in pockets, mohair scarves.
I’d assumed you were still living on the rue de Seine, nearest to}
the Seine.
Those craggy, narrow sunless streets.
We shared café crème at the Flore, reminiscing names.
The rain never seeming to let up,
drumming on the outstretched awning,
unremarkabilities our reveries bestowed.