This year, I was invited to contribute my poetry to an art exhibition in France for the second time. Last year, I had the privilege of showcasing my work in Arles. This time, it was Bordeaux.

The beauty of this for me lies not only in the birth of the poetry itself but in how far one poem can travel. “Switching,” was originally written in English and, last year, it was translated into three additional languages: French, Polish, and Yoruba. This year, we built on that by adding audio renditions in all four languages, allowing the piece to come alive in different voices and cultural tones.

But when I arrived in Bordeaux, something unexpected caught my attention the moment I entered my hotel room. Written boldly on the wall was a quote:

“Il y a plus de philosophie dans une bouteille de vin que dans les livres.” — Louis Pasteur

I don’t speak French, so naturally, I had to look it up. The translation read: “There’s more philosophy in a bottle of wine than in books.”

As a writer and book publisher, I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or feel mildly offended. Did I pick the wrong hotel? Was I in the wrong city? I came to Bordeaux to offer poetry to an art exhibition and yet here was this quote, indirectly questioning the very purpose of my poetry, my writing, and the books I’ve helped others publish.

But as I started to ease into the rhythm of Bordeaux, the quote began to make sense in a different way. Perhaps it wasn’t dismissing books at all. Perhaps it was celebrating a certain way of life – one that values slowing down, being present, sharing space and stories, and finding meaning in moments, rather than always looking for it in written words.

That quiet moment sparked a journey of reflection; one I’ve captured in my latest Bordeaux vlog. It’s not a city guide, but a poetic stroll through the city, filled with sun, stillness, unexpected thoughts, and the feeling of moving between worlds.

In this video, I reflect on my relationships across borders, talk about finding peace on a difficult day and share “Switching” – first in English, then in French, and finally, with a touch of Yoruba. The exhibition I had written this poem for explored themes of travel, migration, and the experience of being made of both Europe and Africa. So, the poem is also a quiet reflection on what it means to embrace a traveller’s identity. It reflects on living between two continents and having deep personal ties to both.

Although I wrote it over a year ago, it came from a mindset I found myself in again recently, during a heartfelt conversation with a good friend.

I remember saying to him: “My family and friends are scattered all over the world. I don’t even have a home country!” I was being a bit dramatic. But he gently reminded me: “That’s not true. You have three.”

He was right. And I do love having roots in different places. But every now and then, I need a reminder that it’s a gift. That moment was one of those moments. And so is this poem.

“Switching” is about movement. It’s about the weight of living between worlds, but also the joy of re-learning how to love it all over again. So, if you’d like to hear the audio poem and are curious how that quote on the wall came full circle for me, please watch the Bordeaux vlog here.

If anything resonates, please leave a comment and share your thoughts. I’d love to hear them.

Thank you for sharing this moment with me.

Monika