..In This Corner, No One Is Significant.... Poem by RIC BASTASA

with an italian song
in his heart
imagining the canal waters of venice
the gondola and the
woman beside him

he walks out the
busy street
struts around and hums

life is beautiful
the city is alive

he feels the pain on
his shoulder
the flesh is trembling
the eyes blur
at a distance he only
sees outlines
like a Manet painting

the buttons of his
shirt are not complete
something is missing
always something is missing
in between all these

there is nothing to hold now
not even a cane
not even a child's hand
or someone who knows you
and takes a glance about
what you feel
for his stability

the old man is weak
and burdened

the city sees him as
everyone else's

for in this corner of
the world
amidst the crowd the rubble and
the babble


no one is significant.