𝟐𝟔-𝟏-𝟏𝟗𝟑𝟗 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐦 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐑𝐮𝐤𝐞𝐲𝐬𝐞𝐫

When Barcelona fell

 

When Barcelona fell, the darkened glass

turned in the world and immense ruinous gaze,

mirror of prophecy in a series of mirrors.

I meet it in all the faces that I see.

Decisions of history the radios reverse;

Storm over continents, black rays around the chief,

Finished in lightning, the little chaos raves.

I meet it in all the faces that I see.

Inverted year with one prophetic day,

high wind, forgetful cities, and the war,

the terrible time when everyone writes “hope.”

I meet it in all the faces that I see.

When Barcelona fell, the cry on the roads

assembled horizons, and the circle of eyes

looked with a lifetime look upon that image,

defeat among us, and war, and prophecy,

I meet it in all the faces that I see.

***

Muriel Rukeyser

Muriel Rukeyser (December 15, 1913 – February 12, 1980) was an American poet, essayist, biographer, novelist, screenwriter and political activist.