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| "Relativity" by M.C. Escher |
Hooded walkers circle
the courtyard stairwell
intent on mysterious missions,
ascending, descending, never arriving.
Hoods up. Get in Line.
Eyes straight ahead.
Ascending patriots on the left,
Descending on the right.
Others watch amazed, amused.
Some sit pensively in despair.
Begin—
foot up foot down
foot up foot down
foot up foot down
march march march
Eyes straight ahead.
go go go
Do not notice that man you passed.
You will be at your destination soon.
That is not the same man you passed before.
Soon we will be great again.
How can you possibly pass the same person?
Do not believe your eyes.
You are on your way to greatness.
Hoods up. Get in Line.
Eyes straight ahead.
Atop the grand building
where columns and archways
impose facade upon
impenetrable interior,
no one disrupts the procession.
Kenneth Arthur is a former professional computer nerd and currently a minister in the United Church of Christ. Besides dabbling in poetry, he is the author of a book of theology scheduled for publication in 2017. He currently lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan.