a passage of steps
in the dark between empires
I live in a box
worm burrowed
patched of old packing
in which the salt washes
deep in the grain
lured along with a flute
red painted
on Christmas lights a tide
moss shining with the rain
this is where the princess fled
the inflated courtesan was chased
into a fog of streets
the prince followed
streets folded away
inhabitants vanished
the cauldron was rolled in behind doors
from a crack in the cabinet
see the passage of ships
sometimes mist clears
Peru hoves in sight
the ruins rise with each lapse of attention
a temple crops up in the street
but mainly the dice still roll with the decks
ivory on felt on timber
a revelation with the moon
which does the business of the goddess
to strike the silver sea.
From: http://www.universeofpoetry.org/australia.shtml
Date: 2016
By: Christopher Kelen (1958- )