Hommage Aux Artisans Et Métiers

Life's ups and downs were among my first and most preciousmemories that I collected during my student years in FrenchspeakingSwitzerland and in France. Everyday life gave me asensitive respect and esteem for artisans and tradesmen. Withouttheir contributions, often not apparent, sometimes small eveninsignificant, the quality of life would be very different, let's say, less comfortable and unsatisfactory. And my habit of being aperpetual visitor to France since those early years has had theeffect of reinforcing my sentiments.These people, working behind the scenes, more often infaraway and hidden workrooms, out of sight, give their bestefforts and countless hours to furnish the things that one doesn'teven notice unless there is a mistake.I could tell hundreds of stories of success and tens ofblunder. But in the poems that follow this preface, one willfind most of all an homage to the artisans and journeymenwho provide the products and services that make life morebeautiful, more comfortable, more delicious, healthier, cleaner, and happier. My intention is to elevate the level of awareness ofthe incalculable value that rests in the minds and hands of theseirreplaceable folk. In effect, the more one knows of the intricaciesand the competencies of these masters, the more they will beappreciated. There is an art to this thing they call savoir-fair