Looking for an Eye

by Peter Krok

From the book:

RETURNING

Always you return to these streets,
these red brick rows where you grew
from daydream adolescent to daydream father.
Here you served from altar boy to usher.
Here you strolled on solitary evenings
under stars, always asking questions
of life and tomorrow.
Here the gray ancient dome of St. Francis.
The walls arc a stone sense of past
over the ribs of its red brick parish.
Inside, plaster peals beside the figurines
of Stations where whisperers still recite
the Way. In alcoves the faithful
light candles for remembered shadows.
Here Saturday evenings you went
with your white-scarfed mother
to prepare always for the voice
behind the curtain and tomorrow.
When that tomorrow came,
you found your way returning
to the recess of the bells.

76 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Peter Krok was born in West Berlin and he came to the United States during the Berlin Air Lift. His mother was a German war bride. He is editor of the Schuylkill Valley Journal and humanities director of the Manayunk Art Center where he has been coordinating a literary series since 1990. He is often referred to as the "red brick poet" because of his association with red brick Philadelphia where he grew up. The connection to the city continues to resonate in his work. He lives now in a red brick cape cod house in Havertown, PA.