Blood on the Streets of Paris
Because of the stone angels      high in sunlight
Immortal Paris!    and because  
of the occasional  small pillars
I tripped.              My travel guide
flopped off like a butterfly.
My feet, unused to flying     kept on walking
          and face first   I flew
     over pink stone   into the sidewalk.
   
My nose
dripped
two drops of blood      two tiny roses
then
with the fever of burst faucets,
drenched hands, hankies, sleeves, chin,
and that uncaring street where I sat
spellbound at myself.
    I clamped my hand to my nose.
    Without thread, without glue
my body took charge.
Cells to the rescue!    Small experts
aiming white spears and fibrin
coagulant weapons       beyond my comprehension,
delicate artisans
putting sunlight back into my skin.
                        A community
within my own shores, had set up pavilions
was sharing my life,
and even as I wondered,
my nose
stopped bleeding.
    I left dry stains to fade into stone
and took with me the healing.
My life is filled with life    a small
companionable city.
   



© 1999, 2000 Grace Solomonoff