Valhalla

Valhalla

by Alan J. Blaustein

High on West Street walking summer day

Sunlight in my face and to my right

Seeing more the Hudson than the street ahead.

I expected factories parking lots and bars,

Nothing else than pleasant afternoon

And then the wonder stopped me seized my sight.

Valhalla? Yes, it was!

Risen in all magnificence from the street

As proudly massive blocks of—stone.

It instantly awed me reduced me to a speck—

For what great purpose could this be?

Home for a breed of freshly risen gods?

I walked beside amazed and looking up

Until I came upon a massive porch

That stretched before great doors of glass and bronze,

Flanked by pillars, granite guards.

A plaque above the doors, all shining bronze,

Proclaimed the name.

Look what the age of heroes has become,

Look how Odin’s dream has re-emerged,

See how the ordinary conquers all,

How wonder can vanish like a wisp of smoke…

I saw for what my hall of gods was built—

Manhattan Community College!

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Poems in English 

• The Licorice Fields at Pontefract poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• The Last Laugh poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• The Irish Unionist’s farewell to Greta Hellastrom in 1922 poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• The Hon. Sec. poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• The Cottage Hospital poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• Sun and Fun poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• South London Sketch poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• Slough poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• Senex poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• Seaside Golf poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• On a Portrait of a Deaf Man poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• Myfanwy poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• Mortality poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• Middlesex poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• Meditation on the A30 poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• Loneliness poem – John Betjeman poems by John Betjeman
• Ireland With Emily poem – John Betjeman poems | Poems and Poetry by John Betjeman
• Inexpensive Progress poem – John Betjeman poems | Poems and Poetry by John Betjeman
• In Westminster Abbey poem – John Betjeman poems | Poems and Poetry by John Betjeman
• How To Get On In Society poem – John Betjeman poems | Poems and Poetry by John Betjeman

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