Ansonia Opera House

PHOTOGRAPHER'S JOURNAL:

Skaters at the Opera House  

Everything important happened here,

weddings, graduations and town meetings. 

Romeo passed word to meet Juliet here, 

Mimi died,

Uncle Tom suffered dutifully 

while we held hands. 

We loved 

especially the magicians and their magic rabbits, 

Saturday afternoons everyone roller skated here, 

roller skating at the opera, 

and in the evening men sang and danced and juggled.

What spices can embalm the memories?

Will salt or smoke or drying make them last?

the voice cadances of childhood friends, 

this ones smooth assertiveness, 

that ones hesitation. 

a voice that smiled, 

eyes like kindling,

sometimes 

almost 

nothing 

we can name

yet a crystal cadence

etched on memory.

We fall nameless 

like oval photos 

from the flaking album, 

and our spirits return to the old opera house, 

eternally circling there as when we were skaters.