Over the Rooftops of Time: Jewish Stories, Essays, Poems

Then

Then for Paul Celan I think just because you are coming I can write the poem of the creation of the world I can put the Seine in my river poem the temple of the cobblestone cobblestones of liberation in my poem because you are coming. I think I can put the prefect of police in my poem harvest of exile golden badges sutured like leaves into the bodies of children. But it is not like a door opening this poem not willing like a finger dipped in the earth. River this Seine why do the threadbare badges cover the surface of water like petals river who touches every groping heart are you the one 1 5 2 who received the poet his armful of crystals that night in April before the last darkness of winter was washed off river the poet walked that night letting off breathing opening his death like a jar. A PLACE CALLED GEHINOM 1 5 3 ...