London Bridge - Ann Lauinger
London Bridge is falling down.
Children shout what we won't say:
Silence is shapelier than sound,
The
voice of ruins more profound
Than any tune steel cables play
Until the bridge is falling down.
Then let it fall. Stones on the ground,
A scattered music, can't betray
The silence shapelier than sound;
Impartially the din will drown
Arpeggios with the ass's bray
When bridge and all come falling down.
Ship's keel, satin heel, common noun-
The truest builders but grope their way
Toward silence, shapelier than sound,
That perfect, that entropic round
Beyond the cast of breath or clay.
London Bridge is falling down.
Silence is shapely. Make no sound.