First impressions of Frankfurt (Oder)

Double-decker trains - practical, no?
Signs in German and Polish.
Lots of cobbles, many shapes, sizes.
Trams make my window, bed, floor shake.

A quick unpack
All my things
     „Ready“

Own flat in city centre,
TV, small kitchen, bathroom.
Own telephone in room: 0 (049) 335 500 800 89
Canoes in back garden,
Climbing wall,
Apple tree.

Karl Marx Street,
Rebuilt from scratch after the war
     As was most of the town.
The streets are five, six lanes wide,
For military parades
In socialist times.

Anti-fascist graffiti
And blocks, blocks, blocks of flats
Hark back to an era
That died before I lived
Just over 20 years ago.

One or two men searching through rubbish bins, unshaven.

Some empty shop windows,
One still says
„We’ve moved! From 28.09.98, you can find us at no. 10, Thomas Müntzer Court.“


5 Aldis in town,
Similar numbers for other
      cheap
Supermarkets.
1000g of potatoes, pasta, bread: 1,-€.


English music on the radio,
In their mouths.


Two main church buildings
Now only concert halls.
Our socialist legacy.

Churches less conspicuous.
Estimate 15% Christians.
Much less, some say.
But you can’t deny the heritage,
Window frames with the cross
Everywhere you go.

A lovely family with four children.
Lend bike, coat.
Warming generosity.

Colourful cactus left in the bathroom
       by Mum and Emily.
Love-apple tree on coffee table.


4 days solid work per week.
Speech all so fast,
Struggle to remember meanings
When focussing on words so much.
Tired more easily,
Hope it goes.


Old goals, drives,
Somewhat less potent.
Show me who I am, Jesus.

I turn out the light
  And I’m
      All
          Alone.

At the border.
Other side of the road.
Life, Part II.