RETURN

First the statues left. A little later

the trees, the people, the animals. The land

was left totally deserted.A wind was blowing.

Newspapers and thorns ran down the streets.

In the evening the lights went on by themselves.

A man returned alone, looked around,

took out his key, stuck it in the earth

as though entrusting it to some underground hand,

as though planting a tree. Then he ascended

the marble stairs and looked down over the city.

Warily, one by one, the statues were returning.