The forked lightnings played, the winds were out

And in the hut her mother lay and wailed,

And called on all the saints, the while Jehan

(That was her mother’s husband, monseigneur),

He stood and struck his heel against the logs.

Up flew the sparks, for all the wood was drift,

Salt with the sea, and every flame was blue.

I held the babe—Yvette, show monseigneur

The mark beneath the ear!

Yvette