Bats

I was in Berlin to escape

the election and twice went

to the spot hitler killed himself.

Never ending bats chaotically

flew out of the ground with

dark emptiness in a pattern

I could not discern.

I came home in time to vote,

surprised when bats

rushed toward me

around every corner.

***

It's inauguration day.

My heart races in disbelief.

Outside my window, wrens

flutter in and out of a maple.

I'm surprised by normalcy.

The many Germans I've met

have been friendly and reasonable.

How did hitler happen I asked?

Economic turmoil, people felt lost

and just enough of them ignored

his cold eyes and darkness. And

then, he consolidated power.

Bats fly out of my keyboard.

Bats cover the sky and the earth.

And I look

upward and

inward for

an answer.