8/8/2004

He entered
the underworld
aboard
a small train
and though
no one else
appeared aware
of where they were
as if all frames
of reference
had been forgotten
he was relieved
when they emerged
from the darkness
into the light
the train climbing to
a magnificent
architectural work
in which he
expected to find
exceptional works of art
discovering instead
the suppressed physicality
of a mausoleum
which seemed to explain
why certain turns
in history
had been taken
interesting but insufficient
to slow his retreat from
all that had
never been allowed.