An Optimistic Ditty

American Poetry Review, The, Jan/Feb 2001 by Enzensberger, Hans Magnus

It does happen, now and then,

that somebody cries for help.

At once, someone else leaps into

the water, absolutely for nothing.

In the thick of fattest capitalism,

the glinting fire truck turns the corner

and quenches the flames, or silver shines

from the beggar's hat all of a sudden. I

Every morning the streets are teeming

with people who run back and forth, without

drawn knives, just at their leisure,

in search of milk and radishes.

As in the midst of pease.

A glorious spectacle.