against the wall
the men were lined up
against the wall

they were young
men some
folks from the city
sanitary department had
come to line up
against the wall

they showed no
particular interest
in the events
bound to follow
smoking
silently, dragging
heavy stuff
a quiet chorus
clouded my eyes

there was noise in the air
most perfectly still
of metal on stone
of cloth on brick
their eyes were shrouded

from my view up high
I could see their backs arch
they had to be somewhere
they must have had to be somewhere
gloomily lined up
against the wall.

(2017/2018)