On the Removal of the Auden Plaque from 77 St. Mark’s Place [by George Green]

When Pindar’s town was burnt by Alexander

the poet’s heirs were all left safe indoors.

Entrepreneurs thought St. Mark’s could be grander

and gutted Wystan’s house to add more floors.

 

Grand, smoky parties, Flagstad in hi-fi,

a car assigned to drive Miss Moore back home-

it might as well have happened in Shanghai;

they’ve taken down the marker and the poem.

 

The bar survived next door where he would go

unbathed and rumpled with the Times’ crossword,

and at that idle toil he would know

the pity in the prattle overheard.

The pity of this house-his missing name.

The landlords and the city are to blame.

 

-- George Green

Comments

[David Schloss]

Fitting and just. An excellent commemorative poem. Thank you, George Green.

[S Again]

dear Mr. Green, I shared On the Removal with friends - few - who remain in NYC, and with many who left. I reminded all of us of our Once upon - we wrote poems, messages, on the Olivetti typewriter on 5th Ave. Saw previews of friend's films at the Rizzoli screening room. Gave my ticket stub to another Balanchine admirer to attend City Center. We'd meet after these happenings and talk, and talk.

Thank you for green reminders, of the city setting us free. ever S Again

[D.M. Hertz]

a very touching poem! Thanks for posting.