Stu Hatton

BERLIN

The West controlled the U-Bahn. Underground train lines passed under
the wall at certain points. Passenger trains from the West would pass
through 'ghost stations' in the East, never stopping at these.

*

The communications tower spiking out of Alexanderplatz still casts the
old omniscient spell at night, red eyelets flashing over the grey grid
below. Socialist system a torn web still dangling from housing blocks,
the eastern Ratthaus. In the former GDR, kids were herded into group
potty sessions to sow the seeds of collectivism.

*

Chunks of city scattered amongst derelict blocks, may never be
de-fragged. Temples falling into disuse. Underground clubs in
abandoned vaults and warehouses; strobes spray lightning on sweat,
shaved heads, concrete.

*

One dark dividing wall to split the brain of a city. Graffiti coats
the surviving segments.

*

The opening of the wall was a bureaucratic slip – a rogue document
inserted to sabotage the machinery. Paper jam. At the press
conference, without pausing to consider the words or their meaning,
the official read out the memo.

A TRAIN, OUTBOUND

It takes minutes to leave the city. But to leave the city, mentally…

There are always nervous questions prior to departure. You must peel these off.

See this industrial district? It has fled nature.

Likewise I sometimes believe writing is an avoidance; you opt for a
conversation with yourself. Living very far apart.

The houses have satellite dishes as standard; ears to the wind.
Powerline towers, like posts of an enormous fence. These are and are
not life-conductors.

Fields in which to expand, cease? As if cities were ready to forget.
Gazing out the window, I swim the wild grass.