X
X
X
Yes I know where I belong
I cannot wait to live there
city of a thousand canals
inviting golden brown cafes at night
not a bridge too far away
I'll meet you
over a pint
of beer
leaning
with the tables
a friend, like the night
O God release my heart, let me doff
all inhibition
To sing the Paradiso
To urinate in public
To dance up and down DZ street
To live on the Amstel river
somewhere dimmed red lights unionizing.
tobacco
smells of fresh herring the peddler offers
a fammiliar old man at a street table
ashes collected his worn hand surely rolling
€6 grass
fischya fischya en het water
fischya fischya en het komh
smoke roars of the arena
worshippers of an ancient Greek hero
Babylon cometh
the orange prodigy
and those damned bulbous drugs! yellow, red, purple
homegrown and on every corner
Masters, I pray you hold your tongue
until one more story has yet begun
the old center palaces
looming towers of master tradesmen
speak of a darling maritime
O Grand Republic, do not so
hastily close your gates
or cheapen me
let me die in your arms
to say
"I am empty"
"and free"
X
X
X
Extra credit to anyone who can name the place.
Comments
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Oh, my goodness. Gerontion, you have no idea how much I regret the fact that I've never gone to Amsterdam. I almost got my chance to go this summer, but lost it due to monetary constraints--I was so disappointed. It's one of the three places I've decided I have absolutely GOT to go some day: Amsterdam, Rome, and Moscow. I assume this is where you're talking about: if I'm somehow wrong, I am very embarrassed. :-P
Anyway, to actually talk about your poem. :-P
First off, I love reading your poetry for many reasons--not the least of which is because you remind me so much of Mr. Eliot
--and reading this one reminded me of all of them. You have the gift for slantwise speech that Eliot had--things that at once make sense and seem absolutely cryptic. (Like 'bulbous drugs'. What a perfect way of putting it).
And this poem is, as Zayra has already said 'immaculate'. Your detailing is envious--not just in and of itself, but in the context of the poem, how well you make things fit. Not a word is out of place. Not even the X X X :-P.
Awesome stuff.
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The details in this poem are immaculate. I have not read such a well written free verse poem of this length in awhile. This shows real talent. Thank you for finding me, so I could return the visit and arrive to the doorstep of your words.
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