FRENCH DISTANCES
All distances in France are measured
from Notre Dame.
When I feel distant
from everyone and everything
and distant from myself
broody moody
hag ridden by too many distances
and the 4th dimension
O time time time
I come back at warp speed
to my younger self
seeking out the king kilometer
i come back to kilometer Zero
at the heart of Il de la Cite
to get centered
get a starting point
get a grip
get Notre-Damed
with incense and votive candles
O pivotal zero
for all distances
in all directions
walking running flying
sometimes even backed by silent sopranos
by altos tenors baritones
by the silences of a heavenly choir
going the unheard of distance
to a rose window heaven
starting near kilometer Zero
radiating for unheard of miles
David Gershator