April 2016 – sunrise in a small city

metal of cyprus

from massive stars
the spark of every respiration
rolled and coiled around the world
so breathe the machines

cuba street at sunrise — (copper manufacturing was pioneered in locust point and canton starting in 1845)

broken loose together

through the bath the cistern and the hearth
a steady stream of living water

lloyd street synagogue at sunrise — (the first synagogue in baltimore, built in 1845, is on lloyd street)

the road heads down rather pretty in sunrise afterglow
out of shadows
steam rises from waiting horses
passengers each silent alone in chilly morning
relaxing for the jolting commute
jarring thundering down to town
where steeples and towers and cobbles
are a red orange brown and grey
from green and purple groves and gardens
sounds of metal hammering steam and shouting join bird songs
around the channel to deep oceans
where markets are made.
now jump down and walk
with women and men whose names you may know

york road at sunrise — (omnibus service started in 1844 to outlying hamlets)

tapestry

sons of princes
with discontinued wefts of yarn
of gold silver silk wool and cotton
hiding the warp threads
gathered together and started weaving
a cloth that changes with every different ray of light or new perspective

saint paul and lexington at sunrise — (the maryland historical society was established in 1844, with offices in the athenaeum)

ignorance becomes torture

neighbors overhearing
silent pondering of hours kept
fly evil flaming missiles
against loins girt with prayer
rash words never unsaid

aisquith at sunrise — (afraid that a carmelite nun was fleeing from torture, baltimore citizens attacked the monastery on aisquith street in 1839)

.- ..-. – . .-. –. .— — .–

a meteor
warped into baltimore from washington
the planet seized and shuddered
and aftershocks are running all around our brain

pratt from paca at sunrise — (the first telegraph message arrived on pratt street in 1843)

web of miscellany

ink pulsed about under arm on wheels
carried
folded
stacked
smudged.
the print glowed
like embers in a fire
and echoed from person to person
like stories retold

light street at sunrise — (the baltimore sun published its first edition in 1837 from light street)

inland harbor

fog wanders in not so often
like a thirsty stray dog
walking up the bay
a quiet flock of birds from the west
suddenly all around
becoming the chilling air
lingering
not moving on.
at last melting away

harbor at sunrise — (less fog helped the port of baltimore compete with the new york port in the 19th century)

being a carpenter

as if he were addressing thousands
of professed believers
he spoke with ardor and enthusiasm

first baptist at sunrise — (the first baptist church, established in old town in 1836 by moses clayton, erected its own building in 1880 on caroline street)

mah-hah-bone

from east, west, north, south political
in search of power
on the rails over the crossties
from the highest hills and the lowest vales
with fervency zeal grip and word
speculating
troweling cement into fissures in the sanctum sanctorum
time seizes they cry and shout
bees in a hive incensed
swords properly pointed
anchors weighed
scythes sharpened
shovels ready
foot to foot knee to knee breast to breast hand to back mouth to ear
launching the semi-sacred quest

square fountain at sunrise — (the first of many national political conventions in baltimore in the 19th century was held by the anti-masonic party at the athenaeum on lexington and saint paul streets in 1832)

Month: April 2016