Around the city I am bound

in search for produce, flowers ‘round

here and there facade I see

art nouveau and fleur de lis

in parks I walk and often stop

to stare at fountains, coins I drop

the monuments, eyes gaze in awe, then

imagining what could have been

in churches, cherubim and seraphim

some destroyed in fire’s sin

makes me weep to see again

the musicians here, in subways, trains

always makes me sing refrains

and try an instrument again

the gastronomie, c’est magnifique

in restaurants fill up my cheeks

my tastebuds brighten all the streets

the concierge, le nom Yohann

my family since 2001

when towers fell, he was an ear

arm round my shoulder, quelling my fears

and then, when visit’s at an end

I’ll dream till I come back again.

-Sandra Johnson, 6/22/19