Ryasna – Belarus

Frannie Z

 

Those killed by pogroms

and Nazis.

fill mass graves.

Chernobyl just downwind

killed more.

 

The town makes electrical

and medical parts

and looks through buildings

like eyeless hollows.

 

Too much

to imagine wooden houses

with blue shutters,

dancing soldiers

drinking loudly?

 

Once, many years ago,

sisters picked wild strawberries

and sang near the river

of lovers

With dark eyes.