Poetry Corner for April 17-18
focus on the building
sign comes down
bricks are pulled away
structure shutters and falls
happens if you look
happens if you don’t
some mouths cry “history”
some cry “progress”
still others
beg for air to breathe
but you focus on the building
plotting balconies and stages
planning seating and lobbies
but you can’t bring air
back into his lungs
this vision is flipped focus
a brick between teeth
mouth pulled wide with effort
a diversion in decadence
to cries of exclusion
you will swallow this building
and your full belly
will cloud your thoughts
Jeni Alden St. Laurent
Nashua
—
hear them all at once
a city of voices
conflicting narrative
on a price divine
and a walk down Main Street
is just the thing to clear them
pressed back
with barricades of color
breathing art into concrete
then drive down DW
internally purr as the
wooden doors open to
the smell of coffee and books
must be Saturday
don’t forget your newspaper
Jeni Alden St. Laurent
Nashua