The Voices
The voices stand
too long on the quay you don't see ships anymore
under the trees we want to go there
to keep on heaping up I was
I want to say
never in Amsterdam saw
them in a picture standing
stood too long
in the autumn still outside forgotten in the shadows
stopped there along the canals above the bridge railings
the voices leaned,
stood, took leaves
for words
did not want to be birds
about which I want to
say more
they stood on the quays too long
were united
swept the streets
went proudly along the rain gutters
liked themselves
in windows with whispering
or in the water
but I was never in Amsterdam
and ships you don't see much
anymore this time of year