B E R L I N

by Regina Cherry

History eating through flesh rising
to skin's surface like eczema
no new facade can cover
a pockmarked past
not faced up to
buildings dark cold gray
a whole atmosphere sweats
a leaden past looming
on the walls from where a
'volk' is watching
no new sidewalk - paintjob
can pave a sickness
intolerance
lighten grim unhappy
defiant selfsatisfied faces

I am amazed I survived that place
know I am unjust ? there are
better people other sides to
that landscape but those the
exception to a rule
a people's character lives
passed on through
eons of socialization