Poetry in Steel

The Eiffel Tower opened to the public March 31, 1889. In honor of April officially designated as National Poetry Month, here is one of my favorite poems about the Eiffel Tower, which has always made me think the tower is no less than poetry in steel.

The Eiffel Tower
If I wanted to see the Eiffel tower


I’d pick one photo

of the hundreds,

of thousands 

ever taken



Taken from every possible angle


In every light available


From down, down, beneath,

and from up, up, above



From an apartment balcony


late at night


with a glass of wine


in one hand.



But, I don’t want to see the Eiffel tower; No! 


Instead; I want to see


The laugh lines


of the man who built it



Or the rosy cheeked child


on the corner street


wishing that they were bigger


than they already sadly were,



Or the imprints


of a new-born goat’s feet


in the red, red sand,


of West Africa.



I’d want to see


‘from whence he came’


and ‘from whence he goes’ “


and what home really is again.



I’d want to see


What it means


to see Something more


than just another photo view, of the same old Eiffel tower.

Although I am unable to find the author of this poem, I am grateful it was written.