To the Republic

after Frank Bidart

imagine they picked themselves up

from the ground

from where they had fallen

dipped their hands into their wounds

and pulled out the fire-wear

which had entered them by decree

imagine they un-strapped the other

from the chair he had rested in

righted him and put their shoulders

beneath his arms and carried him

imagine they walked through our city again

what a parade it would be

we might stand about in disbelief

take pictures or lower our eyes in shame –

poets come back to life

give us our daily bread