on the fortieth anniversary of the end of Prague Spring

The only surprise
when Spring
ends

is
the fact
of surprises

that lasted
through summer.

Weeds
overrun the place
when Spring goes on

this long.

If you don’t put them down,
there will be jazz
in the palace,

plastic people.
And you don’t need
a weatherman to know

what that means.

Give cultural
revolutions a brake.
Power takes

time to rebrand them
before they
get out of hand.

Keep poets
in their place,
and all tomorrow’s

parties will
make masses
believe

in change
that sees
that Spring is

never controversial.

Even Red Guards sell
now, clean
articulate

mainstream,

keep
wheels
turning, and

don’t bring down
the house. Time

no more makes
converts than

reason. Time
makes time,

where Spring
dreams of change
are always contained

and you can always bank on
the superficial impression
of things being right.

copyright

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