Anonymous Artists

And here on Oostende’s pallid beach
They drew a circle in the sand
With one word all could understand
A sign within a doubter’s reach

They came from Lille and Rome and all
from the same dark heart and awesome ache
That pulls the shattered dreams awake
When night comes fast and curtains fall

Their outward moves and inward bliss
By glassy sea and unreal moon
When art was ravaged by the spume
Remained untouched for love persists

They came from Prague and York and all
from the same cold need and empty space
And frantic thirst and hungry gape
Of famished tale and god-shaped hole

On either side they touched my hand
The tide had washed the word away
But surely came a fine new day
And one more circle in the sand

They came from Cork and Nice and all
from the same dark chapter in the book
With one quick squeeze and loving look
Three hundred sober hearts enthralled

And here the narrow gate expands
Until the time has come to go
To dirty streets and blackened snow
Remembering circles in the sand