Einstein's Window

 
 
           (1)

    you must derive your strength
    from Earth populated by
    a hundred members of
    your own family living
    within a hundred miles

    and from another hundred
    dispersed further away like
    night-lights outside a city

    i wish i knew that feeling
    i wish my children would


            (2)

    i had little to do with the bold flowers
    which my wife grew in the backyard
    my aunt acted theatrical
    suddenly she had tears in her eyes
    while I'd cut a red rose -
    i'll take her back with me
    and lie her down on the grave of your grandmother
    my aunt said

    the dead rose went over the steel ocean
    to keep my grandma company
    my grandmother was my aunt's mother


            (3)

    far from Earth
    there must be Einstein's house
    its open window swings
    in the gravitational draft

    the Earth's plants and animals and us
    from the future and from the past
    hide in the opaque shade of non-being

    the precious few bask
    in the sun-light reflected from
    the moving Einstein window
    but my one and only aunt
    is already in the shadow


            (4)

    clouds in the blue sky move with dignity
    their liquid shadow is rapid


Wlodzimierz Holsztynski
    1988-08-10 ©