a HARRY MATTHEWS

    Rotterdam et Londres
                 Semblent fondre
        Oslo Lille et Mol
                 Sont bien molles
        Maubeuge et les Vosges
             Bleues pataugent
        Kôln Bagnols Marcoule
                 Ulm s’écoulent
        Gouttes de Gdansk
                 Et de Brest-Litovsk
        Où Bach et Banach font des stocks
Lisbonne Toula Liverpool et Lausanne
              Sont dissoutes
       Et Venise même Venise
              S’enlise
On dit que Bruges est la Venise du Nord
       Dit qu’Amsterdam est la Venise du Nord
              que Copenhague est la Venise du Nord
                     Stockholm est la Venise du Nord
Moi je dis qu’Abidjan est la Venise du Nord
       Je dis que Cordoba est la Venise du Nord
          Dis que Venise est la Venise du Nord
                 Que le Pôle Nord est la Venise du Nord
                        La popôle est la Nord du Venise
                             Polonord Venisud
Je dis que la police est le signe du Volpone
   Dis que le vice du Lapon est possible
          Que le vidule assulor est Nazim
                  Le pale novice happé la rue
                         Lappe horisse a lui les
                                Paluisse horripilée
                                        L’Europort pue les lies
                                        L’Europe après la pluie.



    

 


                                        for HARRY MATTHEWS

    Rotterdam and London
                 Apparently melt down
    Oslo Lille and Mol
                 Are real supple
    Maubeuge and the Vosges
                 Blue splash
    Kôln Bagnols Marcoule
                 Ulm flow
    Drops of Gdansk
                 And of Brest-Litovsk
    Where Bach and Banach make stocks
Lisbon Toula Liverpool and Lausanne
                    Are dissolved
         And Venice even Venice
                    Sinks
They say that Bruges is the Venice of the North
         Say that Amsterdam is the Venice of the North
                    That Copenhagen is the Venice of the North
                              Stockholm is the Venice of the North
Me I say that Abidjan is the Venice of the North
       I say that Cordova is the Venice of the North
          Say that Venice is the Venice of the North
                  That the North Pole is the Venice of the North
                                             Popole is the North of Venice
                                             Polenorth Venisouth
I say that the police is the sign of Volpone
   Say that the vice of Lapon is possible
          That the bluegold everthing is Nazim
                    The pale novice hit the road
                            Lappa lies has lit the
                                   Paluisse exasperated
                                             Europort peeews the chain
                                             Europe after the rain.


   



                                        For Sister NANCY

The west is the best
West est best rest
Bed rest wet crests
Best chest screen test
Are you impressed?
They say that Quebec City is the Paris of the West
              Say that Buenos Aires is the Paris of the West
                         That Washington is the Paris of the West
                                      Mexico City is the Paris of the West
Me I say that Chicago is the Paris of the West
          I say that Porto Alegre is the Paris of the West
              Say that San Francisco is the Paris of the West
                         That Santiago is the Paris of the West
                                     Sao Paulo is the Paris of the West
                                              Paulonorth Parisouth
                                              Paulonorth Parisouth
I say that Polaris is the sign of the bear’s reign
     Say that Paul Harris is designed in Bahrain
              That Babel is adorable drunk on cocaine
                          Bubble is a door wrung campaign
                                                Kampy pain
                                                Camp out in the rain
                                                                             Rain.