A Promenade Waltz


from the ABC set Nearside's Poetry

A time for lovers and killers
In a place now shunned
By those who love it best.

Winter brings in the scholars
Whose own dreams replace
Those of the tourists

Bigger dreams, better lines
So much eloquence
Upon that self-same shore.

And none of it wasted
(waste, I've never been so wasted
I've never been this far out before)

Our perimeter walk
Takes us beyond any
Decent awareness

And we are dancing upon Sheets of ice
So solid, though-
Not meant to be so.

And I utter those words,
Forbidden
In their power.

A reply, hesitant-
Not even in English
Am I that worthy?

And though a darkness
Hangs over us
I see only light

No sign of acension
No chance for redemption
But the light shines on.

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