If these walls could talk would they cry
would they scream
their varnish pitch black from the smoke
from the steam
their bricks berated by royal history
left with beggars at their mercy
beggars at their feet

if these walls could talk
they would remind us to listen
as they remain engaged
to this statement
as they just bear witness

if these walls could talk
they would open up
they would crumble
to dust
they would fall
become superfluous

they have been leaned on
they have been hardened
they have been walked along
and now they stand forgotten

if these walls could talk
I dare say

they would not.

KH