They say standing
on train tracks is like
being everywhere at once.
More accurately,
the world parallel
to the tracks comes in
pairings.
With Seven Falls
comes a Centennial, pure
ancient red-brown skin
holy sun and semiprecious stones.
In Hoboken there are spires,
never mind what worlds
await in the tunnels
under the River.
But in a brick and
mortar and railroad
corner of Raleigh,
the weeping South
joins hands with
crumbling Germany.
Downtown Kristellnacht
blue sky railroad
aching eyes bars on windows
on the busiest road where
no cars seem to be
they don't want the reminder
they pass it off
they've already got the Civil War
on their shoulders, but this
this was not their doing
They say
someone should eliminate
these ugly buildings.
More accurately,
it doesn't matter
what falls
when Deutschland is still a ruin
and Raleigh an empty shell.
Author notes
Part 2 of 9 of the Poulenc opera series. The title is the title of the second movement of his opera, Tel Jour Telle Nuit.
For a little additional insight, there really is a place in downtown Raleigh that looks a little bit too much like an abandoned concentration camp. I wonder if anyone else notices.
In a list
How can I make it better?
Comments
-
This is haunting and lovely. I have to go back to the start. I think the images of railway tracks and concentration camps are very powerful; more so is the way you have woven the defeat of the South into the image of a crumbling Germany. I'm going to have to read this with the music.
-
take me there someday.
(ack. i loved the opening stanza.)
-
-
I will. It's desolately beautiful.
-
Adding your comment:
