Heidelberg

it rained all day
we bought a green umbrella
sat under other green umbrellas
drinking cappuccino

it rained all day
we walked and laughed
and talked and didn't

after dark
we drove to Schwetzingen
and ate mussels

on the banks of the Rhine
i met an old friend
and confused him
with my better German
and my worse sense

i photographed the makers mark
on the wall of my apartment building
in Neustadt
and showed her the Elwedrietschen
and and and and and......

nothing
everything
mind blank
heart empty
one wrong word
in one hard language
in one sad world