Let us visit Ithaka,
the blue waters and crystal
shores,
even the isles of Monaco,
swept in the beauty of the sea,
or the beaches at Waikiki,
sand, perfume between toes,
or streets of Paris, small cafes,
music from the Seine,
joys to relish,
the thrill of first looks
but like a cloak loses luster
after worn too long,
joy crumples, ink fades,
celluloid dries, the glance
that sparkled now dreary,
the underbelly appears,
soot blindsides the thrill,
the streets fill with trash,
homeless abound.
Instead of slouching toward
Bethlehem- that is
waiting for the second coming-
or for the lights to come back and
look the same,
keep the feet moving, well oiled.
Taste the fruit before it ripens,
see the lights before they fade,
know a place until it saddens,
the journey alone
the destination.
*Slouching Toward Bethlehem takes its title from the poem “The Second Coming” by William Butler Yeats, which is concerned with a budding revolution. It’s also the title of a book of essays about the ‘60s by Joan Didion.
Hazel Warlaumont is new to poetry after writing both fiction and non-fiction in her career. Her poetry speaks to personal and societal issues and concerns in contemporary society.