Chicago Skyline

What Lasts and What Goes

Visitors on the benchs at the Pavilion
tell secrets. It’s a silver world, twists and emptiness
hold the attention of millions during their stay.

The only success turned out to be the park
at Flushing Meadows, New York, back in the sixties;
other architecture and memorabilia fell into disrepair—
even the teepee from the Wisconsin Pavilion came back
to Neillsville and was tuned into a radio station.

Then came Chicao for the second time
without any better results. The lions
at the Art Institute were bathed and combed
but the rest of it sagged with weariness.

Looking back, we have lost even our wonderment
at the future shown us. Our jaded view of picture phones
and huge tomatoes fade in the presence of subjugating
Pluto and losing the towers.