LET CITIES SUBSIDE TO THEIR NAMES
Osip Mandelstam
Let cities subside to their names,
Brief meanings that flare in the ear:
Washington, London, Moscow, Rome:
Existence is our home, and is here.
Let presidents rule what they can.
Let preachers have their narrow door.
Houses and altars hallowed of man
Are houses and altars, no more.
(1914)
translated by Christian Wiman
