Changing Places

French is a language that intrigues;
It creates no end of words it needs
Based on its special culture-base
For example: holidays which take place

In the hottest months of every year;
French factory workers disappear
To the Côte d'Azur or Saint Tropez
But the exodus happens on one day.

The «Juilletistes» are those who take
The whole month of July - to bake
In long and never-ending sun
Resentful when the month has run.

Tired and fraught and in the heat
But bronzed like gods, they're bound to meet
Another breed as quaintly named
(The French so like this all explained!)

On the outward journey; keen and white
The «Aoûtiens» now hove in sight
These August travellers cause a clash
Both hit the motorways en masse!

(c) Poet in the woods 2014