Chernobyl
       

I wish I were in Chernobyl today.
The streets are peaceful there.

No cars or bicycles rush by, no one
is late for work. No children
are crying on the playground
or getting into trouble.

The file cabinets
in the police department are full
of mice, and the outcome
of the important vote
at the General Assembly
doesn't matter.

There are plenty of vacancies
in the brand-new state prison,
and for once, no one
is talking in the library.
Not even a dog is out today,
pursuing mysterious errands.

Life in my city is tiring.
Deadlines and unread books.
Making love, or dinner.
So many people to disappoint,
so much to buy in the supermarket.
Almost unbearable, this city.

But today in Chernobyl
the clocks have given up.
No one is tapping the phones,
and every night the movie theater
shows the same old silent film.

Does anyone have a question?
No.

The houses of Chernobyl
tend their silences
and on the dinner table
two gray sandwiches are waiting
with such quiet patience.
Like an old married couple.

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Copyright © 2020 George Bilgere All rights reserved
from Rattle
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission