for the People of Egypt by Andres Alfaro

From My Western Window

for the People of Egypt

The space around a space
is the darkness spattered by flags
chants, cries, songs, shouts
and the planet
converges
on the megaphones
fireworks
and flares
erupting from a crowd
of jubilant revolutionaries.

The circle around a Square
surrounds the uneven beating
of a million hearts –
how could they sync
when so much hope
electrifies this moment?
How could lungs
heave in time
when so many lives
depend on the whims
of thugs, cronies
and generals?

The tension around a tension
becomes the double
that calms the storm
yet the
eye
contains an iris – red and black
contains a cornea – to refract
and bring to focus
a lingering shadow
that blurs
and smears joy
across the Sinai tonight.