The Free City Poem by Daniel Brick

Inspired by STOCKHAUSEN DAYS IN KURTEN

A City Council Official escorts a rich merchant
through a new provincial trade center:

This was once an Imperial City, you can see
everywhere the ruins of power. We prop up
the decaying buildings as best we can. We grew
weary of displays of glory built by the labor
of our young men and paid for by taxes levied
on their families. When the Emperor abdicated
and the Imperial fortress was torn down, we
were abandoned. And you can see for yourself,
we have replaced grandeur with happiness!
We are now a Free City: Citizens pay
a fair tax to live in security and peace,
the rest of their modest earnings they spend
on necessities and simple pleasures...
Last summer the Archbishop from the distant
capital visited us and stayed the whole season,
leading us in prayer and performing pastoral
duties. He wept in sadness and joy when he parted
from us, and we shed the same tears. He returned
to his mighty Cathedral and from his Pulpit
he issued a decree forbidding any lord or knight
from occupying our Peaceable Kingdom.

You recognize that term, don't you? It is the title
of a book known all over Europe by the elusive writer
Alessandro Borosoni. You see that much repaired villa
on the hill before us? That is the home of the one
you call Alessandro, but we call Sebastian and neighbor.
He is not hiding from the world, this is his world.
He lives among us, not apart in privileged luxury,
but with us in daily intercourse in the market,
in the Cathedral, in the University, and especially
on the Promenade along the river. You will meet him
tonight, he never hesitates to mingle and talk
and drink to everyone's health. Just last week he gave me
a chapter from his new book. I will read part of it:

What makes a city a community of people?
Is it a fortress with turrets ringing its summit,
each one guarded by a crossbow-man?
That will just provoke violence.

Is it a modest looking building storing an immodest
amount of gold and other wealth?
That will just provoke envy.

Is it the presence of a great lord and his glittering
courtiers in splendid fashions?
That will just drain the citizens' resources.

No, it is a place of peace and contentment,
where good workers ply their trades, and trade
their goods, in a harmony of commerce.

And they share a Vision larger than themselves:

A GREAT WINDOW HANGS IN THE SKY ABOVE US. IT HOVERS
THERE FOR HOURS AS WE BOW AND TREMBLE IN THE LIGHT
WHICH POURS THROUGH THIS PUREST GLASS...
AND WE SEE IN ITS DEPTHS A BOUNTY SHINING
BEYOND OUR GRASP. BUT WE KNOW IN OUR DEPTHS
IT WILL FALL IN ITS DUE TIME AND SHOWER US
WITH ITS BLESSINGS. AND WE ARE CONTENT
WITH WHAT IS GIVEN US HERE AND WHAT IS PROMISED US THERE.
WE BREATHE THE AIRS OF BOTH HERE AND THERE...