THE VLTAVA PAYS NO MIND TO TIME

the giant
metal head
of Kafka

turned and
turned again
staring at city

that even he couldn't have
conceived of this
strange future

high above
this night scape
an orange window glows

presenting a parent
teaching her child
basic ballet steps

it is this
tiny instant
of a humanity

that my mind
will hold as
a souvenir

they are both
only silhouettes
a shadow theatre

puppets in
demi-plié
grand plié

I watch entranced
at now jetés
now sautés

a man with an owl
perched upon his wrist
passes nonchalantly by

a young girl
singing softly
to her self

Tom Petty's  Wildflowers
"You belong with your love
on your arm."

the Old Town
Astronomical Clock
tells us it is 11

and the twelve apostles
go for a walk as
the tourists gawk