New York City 1903
The very day
Edison
Electrocutes an elephant
Caruso
Dressed as a clown
Sings
Of a broken heart
With a drum
In his arms
And Uncle History
Hears the “squillo”
That ping
In a tenor’s voice
Which only the greatest
Can achieve
He thinks
For the umpteenth time
Of Poe—
Believe nothing you hear
And only one half that you see
But walking up Fifth
The notes
Stay with him
There’s something
At work in his soul
Which he doesn’t understand
Planet of the Blind 