Tom Aitken
Three Viennese Sonnets
2 The Helden-Platz
These gardens are the centre: a teetering child
throws a toy; wants it back; dances
with tiny rage, then timidly advances,
its mother waiting calmly in the mild
spring Sunday sunshine. A tourist’s driver steers
onto the Ringstrasse - once a wall
to keep Turks out - points to buildings, all
costume jewellery donned in the fat years
of whipped cream, chocolate cake, Imperial ease.
Hitler ranted here, was cheered; Freud fled
who, knowing the irrational, feared unreason.
The child retrieves its toy and plays at peace.
The city, long declined, is still well-fed:
nostalgia’s worn with style here, whatever the season.
Page(s) 6
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