By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes
TEUFELSBERG (DEVIL’S MOUNTAIN)
For the Trümmerfrauen of Berlin
A single mountain
in Berlin
On its summit
the Cold War melts
into marching trees
Clouds
high jumped over
the Olympic Stadium
where Jessie Owens ran
I climbed
the densely forested
heights of Teufelsberg
Blownup pieces of buildings
oozed out of slopes
My knee bent into earth
still moving
with the shuffling footsteps
of rubble women
Man makes war
His widows and orphans
are left to haul away
battered bones of
cities
Making mountains
out of ruined lives
Author Note: Trümmerfrauen (literally “the rubble women”) who cleared the bombed out ruins of Berlin at the end of the World War II, one brick at a time.
Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes was born and raised in San Diego, California. He attended Herbert Hoover High School and went on to study Religion and Theology at the University of San Diego. His book Intimate Geography, published by Ragged Sky Press, won the 2012 San Diego Book Award for Poetry. Ish, as he is known, has also written lyrics for German musicians Andrea Hörkens and Thomas Roderburg (Tender Art).
Latest posts by Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes (see all)
- Word’s Out | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 14, 2018
- Political Love Affair | Geo-Poetic Spaces - December 7, 2018
- Deer Tracks | Geo-Poetic Spaces - November 30, 2018
