Switzerland

by Rochelle Cunningham
© 2007


Watch the brilliant teal serpent
Threading a sigh
Meandering through gardens of towns
folk


Toppled devotion – organic generations
Of perfect harmony. Cultivated rows
Entwined in silken soil

Listen – jazz softly rises up from
courtyards; tears
Fall on archaic structures


Of gold – and God; where thousand-year-old fingers

Carved overwhelmingly – stealing their faith.

Crimson petals twist
and pour

Out of discernible window boxes
Onto slate green streets
below. Above

The Alps tower with snow-caps
Peering down on bullion rooftops.
Jeweled windows of painted faces

Looking out from the ubiquitous Clock Tower
See. Even the
Elderly steal a kiss – or a moment
On a park bench and watch

As a teal river
Slithers
quietly
past.