Outside, the street is full of roles
barbed wire, you don't see them
behind the blinded windows
of formal peace
Inside everyone walks naked
in their clothes around the tower
of stacked seats on which
the Commissioner is sitting
He wiggles, the mouth full
of national interests and mutual care
The walls are decorated with names
Out of politeness I note mine
in the guestbook, sixteen pages
after a woman who has become famous
I leave my borrowed laurels
I don't want to rest on them
Poem 1734 Amsterdam, 2018-04-27 Headquarters of the British police in the Princess Mary Street, Jerusalem, May 19th, 1948 Poem "The Tower" (Charles Simic, 1994, collection "A Wedding in Hell") Collection:Changing Times Keyword:Colonialism Keyword:Jerusalem%