#paristrends

You remember that day in Paris

When we wandered through the rain

And promised to each other

That we'd always think the same

And dreamed that dream

To be two souls as one

And stopped just as the sun set

And waited for the night

Outside a glittering building

Of glittering glass and burning light

And in the road before us

Stood a weary grayish man

Who held a child upon his back

A small boy by the hand

The three of them were dressed in rags

And thinner than air

And all six eyes stared fixedly on you

The father's eyes said "Beautiful!

How beautiful you are!"

The boy's eyes said

"How beautiful!

She shimmers like a star!"

The child's eyes uttered nothing

But a mute and utter joy

And filled my heart with shame for us

At the way we are

I turned to look at you

To read my thought upon your face

And gazed so deep into your eyes

So beautiful and strange

Until you spoke

And showed me understanding is a dream

"I hate these people staring

Make them go away from me!"

The father's eyes said "Beautiful!

How beautiful you are!"

The boy's eyes said

"How beautiful!

She shimmers like a star!"

The child's eyes uttered nothing

But a mute and utter joy

And filled my heart with shame for us

At the way we are

And this is why I hate you

And how I understand

That no-one ever knows or loves another