The Watchmen -Haiku 2024 #ThursdayDoors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetry, Thursday DoorsTags:
Main Entrance (West Portal), Lausanne Cathedral, Switzerland. Image credit: © Michael Derrer Fuchs | Stock

with one voice

the watchman shouts into the night

as the city sleeps

*

*The featured doors are the newly restored Gothic West Portal (Main Entrance) of Lausanne Cathedral, Switzerland (circa 1275). Surrounding the towering wooden doors are intricate stone sculptures, further overshadowed by larger-than-life biblical figures and regional kings.

A little wider angle, Main Entrance West Portal Lausanne Cathedral. Image credit: ©Aleksei Mitrushkin | iStock

Trivia #1: The True Story of The Watchmen of Lausanne Cathedral, Switzerland.

At Lausanne Cathedral, a watchman (also called “the lookout”) and his deputies take turns fulfilling the nightly duty of announcing the hour, crying out and shouting from the bell tower between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., 365 days a year.

Positioned in the 67.5 m (221 ft) high bell tower, the watchman calls out to the city’s residents from each of the four cardinal directions—north, south, east, and west—shouting the phrase: “It’s the lookout, it rang [ten or whatever the hour may be].” This ancient custom dates back to medieval times when the watchman also kept watch for fires.

In 2021, for the first time since the watchman tradition began in 1405, Lausanne Cathedral hired its first female watchman, Cassandre Berdoz. As one of the deputies, she works part-time, like her fellow deputies, fulfilling this centuries-old duty three nights a week.

Trivia #2: The One-of-a-Kind Pipe Organ of Lausanne Cathedral

Lausanne Cathedral is home to the only pipe organ in Europe designed and crafted by a U.S. company. The “Opus 120” built by C. B. Fisk & Company in Massachusetts, boasts 7,313 pipes. It was dedicated in December 2003.

Fun Fact: Lausanne, Switzerland, has been the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and “The Olympic Capital” since 1994.

At Sunset, Lausanne Cathedral, Switzerland. Image credit: © swisshippo | Istock

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Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

47 thoughts on “The Watchmen -Haiku 2024 #ThursdayDoors”

  2. Another fine verse and interesting background story.
    I’ll shortly go looking for a good YouTube post of that Opus 120 organ in action.
    Thank you Suzette.
    DD

    Liked by 1 person

  4. what a wonderful history.

    and captivating that Catherine realised a childhood dream at such a young age of womanhood.

    can you believe after over 600 years tradition is broken after her long and strenuous battle.

    And here she is after demonstrating the power of her voice in a country famous for its watches Ms. Berdoz now maintains the time-keeping element of Switzeland’s ancient job.

    “It’s the night watch woman! It just rang 10!”

    love these super women stories.

    “The breakthrough came in June 2019, when hundreds of thousands of women across Switzerland held a one-day strike to protest against inequality in one of the world’s wealthiest countries”

    beautiful Thursday offering especially this one – the cathedral of Lausanne.

    Love how folk cared for their towns and their cities.

    a night watchman is an important job.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You are right it is about time that a woman watch a country famous for its time pieces among other inventions. That she would have the courage to be persistent in her desire to do the job is inspiring. Blessings to her as she does her work calling out to her fellow citizen…a sentinel watching our her city.
      So happy you enjoyed the sharing. May you be blessed in every corner of your day. Cheers.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. A beautiful share Poet. Very interesing with all these fascinating details you mentioned.
        There was quite a big strike action to break this age old tradition of men only.
        Wonderful though that the tradition continues, but now with a woman at the helm.
        The continuation of the tradition just make these cities so attractive.
        A sentinel watching over her city… beautifully said
        I thoroughly enjoyed, Lausanne was a city I often passed through.
        Thank you so much. Wholesome Blessings to you too. Cheers.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yes, the continuation of these traditions show so much care (as you stated in your earlier comment here) for the well being of the citizens and its buildings and space. They are very blessed indeed.
        I am glad you had a wonderful connection to Lausanne.
        Thank you for the blessings. Cheers.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Absolutely. The city and its people have a wonderful sense of history and appreciation for their culture and tradition even when somethings have to change to move with the times.
        Yes I have a long and quiet association with Lauzanne.
        You are most welcome. Cheers.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. I appreciate the way you say that “a sense of history and appreciation for tradition…and move when things have to change.” That is a mark of wisdom in city community-mindness that grows over time, I think.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Absolutely Poet, knowledge and wisdom have guided the planning of great cities through the centuries.
        That community-mindedness was advanced thinking at the time and today it is embedded in the way they govern and do things.

        Liked by 1 person

  5. I always try to guess where your haiku is leading us. I missed this one by a mile. What an interesting tradition. I’m glad to read that they added a woman to the position. I wonder if they have to audition for the job. The first photo is amazing. The person at the entrance defines the scale – it’s huge!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you Dan! I am glad that the story was of interest. Yes there is stiff competition for the job of watchman. The head watchman currently was selected from 58 applicants. I don’t now what all was part of the selection/interview/juding process, but I would guess that strong vocals would be a plus to the successful candidate.
      Thank you for your work on ThursdayDoors. Have a good one.

      Liked by 1 person

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  8. A lovely haiku covering the main features of the cathedral, Suzette! I liked trivia and fun fact, but the interesting tradition of watchman stood out for me.

    Liked by 1 person

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