Kissing in Paris

The Board of Culture and Tourism
For Paris made a decision.
In the summer months, late spring
And early autumn when the days
Are still warm and the sun
Lengthens and glows along Haussman’s Boulevards
various couples, (pre-selected)
will be paid a modest fee
to kiss on street corners.

Some aspects will be left to their own
Discretion; the length of the kiss,
whether they hold each other close
Or snatch while the air pulls
Them gently apart. Eye contact is
Optional, but preferred.

The couples themselves are carefully chosen.
Not too old, not too young, though
Obviously youth is preferable.
Beauty is tricky.
No one wants to imply
that love is only for the beautiful but,
well, Paris is beautiful and these couples
Should be a subtle reflection
Of it’s timeless charm.

Paris: City of Love. A place
Where anything is possible.
Not only for honeymooners or
Tentative first liaisons, no.
Here you can even find an occasional couple
Past the first flame of passion,
Dignified in their embrace.

As a marketing exercise this
Is hard to fault. In sleek suits,
Smoothly coiffured, they congratulate
themselves on their subtly.
They’re onto a winner.
And sure enough the initial
Statistical reports are enormously satisfying.
Tourism is up and each per capita spend
Has increased by 0.24%.
The French economy will be saved.

And all along the Siene
And in the Jardins Des Luxembourg
and outside cafes
Couples linger and kiss,
For a small fee.