Cathedral
Poem
In the park,
Which reminds me of
The Luxembourg Gardens
trees swell with bursts of cadmium fires
Windswept branches sway like
Burnt-umber menorahs under the
Weight of lamp-black snow
The fluttering of countless
Candle flames.
Paths lead to Old Man who plays
Jerusalem Ridge under the garden
Arch. Kissing teenagers with
Cobalt heads rumble on
Polyurethane wheels.
On the glassy plane of a man made
Lake, miniature sailboats mingle
With the Canada goose
The mallard duck, the water
Fowl, the largemouth bass
Who nip at cigarette butts, crumpled
Cans of Orange Crush, organic farm
Raised cellophane.
Swans arch ivory necks in paired solitude
And I think: if I could paint, I would paint
This. And ignore the man who stands
Behind me and paints apes who paint
Notre Dame Cathedral.
more by SERGIO REMON ALVAREZ
photograph by Daria Nepriakhina
