The pain of blades of grass Growing under the asphalt
Gnawing at their instincts At stolen layered light
Through crevices and cracks With steamy breath – the rain
Of uncrushed ambitions – barred Complexion, unseasoned
Vexing grey grime Spit and urine nourished
Grinding twin empires Ottomania, Russophobia
Our ancestors endured, escaped, resisted So you can burn and smoke their fingers
Reaching out on lurching nights to an addict’s rage, plea transfixer
Bedros Afeyan Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, CA 2-21-2009