The City*

The city is not afraid

now.

From the hill

you can see it has most of its sun

striking against the plastic glass and stone.

Mighty morning monuments

braced

to meet the throng of men

buying

selling owning having

forgetting for the moment

they will blow as dust

on the artificial canyon floor.

In the gleaming light

the city stands above its fear.

mocking clashes of the man chariots

and the moaning of its slaves.

The city,

cold-flint

has seen all

knows all

and is not afraid

until the night.