Where did it happen? In Germany, small town – what in the world was its name?
Poodle on leash, something nasty came strolling toward me, a vile-suited man,
who then addressed me in a language not local. And it turned out to be mine.
That’s how they pitch you a contraband camera, porn, or a one-night-stand broad.
Thanks, but no thanks. Every crowd on the pavements offers such deals. And that bad-
breath hiss was hot and horrendous, and maybe, I should have turned away, but
I’ve never liked it when things keep unrolling, don’t care to wait for an end.
Poodle’s tail twitched when to master’s proposal I gave a nod of assent.
High in the void of the sky a black whorl of swallows that hung there suspend-
-ed, in that static dusk sky all the grinding bells had abandoned their toil,
hands of the clocks all stood still.
Meanwhile wider, outside the frame, the sun broiled,
hands on the clocks all went on with their gliding. Only a single bell tolled.
Life’s pandemonium continued, it bickered, cursed, then went on anyway,
summoned afar, stupefied with strong liquor, menaced with bills to be paid.
All that I kept was a postcard reliquary. But what I lost, I won’t say.