Postcard from an Invisible City by Bruce W Niedt[after Italo Calvino]
I want to come home.
Here in the city of Precipia
the clouds have lowered,
black birds are leaving in Vs.
I toured a metalworking plant today,
and watched while works of art
were melted into weapons.
They took a gorgeous menorah
bronze figures holding candles
as they danced the hora, all
twirling skirts, clicking heels
and smelted it into sidearms.
Revolvers rolled off the line,
an endless array marching right,
facing east.
I want to leave
before they turn poetry to gunpowder.
01/20/2003 Posted on 01/21/2003 Copyright © 2025 Bruce W Niedt
Member Comments on this Poem |
Posted by Agnes Eva on 04/04/03 at 05:26 AM that's really striking and brilliant. that image will haunt me- of these little black letters crumbling into a deadly powder *shudder* (i've suggested it for poem of the day) |
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