Almost as if it had vanished in the night
the learnèd boulevard, the stone
pillars of the mind museum.
Remember that island, church,
parliament, appropriated art,
could be any city, I’ll call it
by some other name, just this once
names don’t matter, it’s Saturday,
they mow lawns, tremble a little
remembering the night. O yes,
that’s where I began, something
vanished in the night, Europe
I think, or Greek Philosophy—
who said we dare think about the world?
Who gave us permission?
Schools are closed on Saturday
tra-la, but shul is busy and lawns
interview the morning sun. Yes.
Something survives. Let it last
in me, in every me you choose to be,
the glory of sheer difference.

2 October 2021