Boulevard Montmartre, Paris, 1850s

A famous print
Hangs in our living room
Luxury and ease pervade
No automobiles clutter
Much before that.
But elegant wagons
Walkers. Attendants.
Top hat or sweeping gown.
Poodle or whippet leashed.
Light poles with hanging flowers.


Easy to gaze upon
By the hour.
Finding new stories
Guesswork…Wistful fantasy.


Nothing suggesting
Realities of another Quarter.
Lust and lack
Torn trousers, too tight jackets
Dresses stained underarm.
Dog’s desperate scrounging, fighting.
Children unsupervised
Picking pockets of necessity.
Garbage strewn gutter-side
Not a benevolent Boulevard
Of any sort.


And a church tower
Middling
Clanging out
Suggestions of equity, charity.
Speaking of a Jesus who
Favoured the poor and lonely
Spoke of a Heaven of
Reward and recompense
As if being heard.