By Ishmael von Heidrick-Barnes
PILGRIMAGE TO RAF BRÜGGEN
I had to fly to RAF Brüggen
to find an olive branch
for the country of my birth
talking itself to death
I had to travel to Germany
to see runways
outflanked by forest
munitions planted
in fortified bunkers frozen by Cold War
carpet bombed by meadows
I had to look through iron curtains
of machine gun nests
barreling up artificial hills Into flowers
hangers brought down
by birds singing over
the drum beaten
children
my country
continues to parade toward oblivion
NOTE: RAF Brüggen was a British Air Force base and ammunition depot during the Cold War. It has since been converted into a nature preserve by Germany.
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
