"22nd Street East" by Josette Urso
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manifesto of the society for the preservation
of elevated electric lines in vermont
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but there is something charming and cozy
about losing power in a thunderstorm,
for Nature's force is tangible
even indoors
when shadows crawl across the lawn,
and one can see the water
sweeping in from the north,
we watch TV by candlelight
when, Snap! Smack!
a fallen power line
might strike the grave
of Robert Frost, in Bennington
who rises up like Frankenstein
to terrorize the occupants
of riding camps
and weight loss clinics
rattling stone walls
and muttering of property rights.
Here, we have good reasons
for our candles,
real reasons,
unlike, say, in Phoenix.
So preserve the upright power lines
that we may be reminded
of smoky fears, and firelight,
constantly.
Marc Penka 2002
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