Classic Poem

The girls
wear earrings

on the water,
silver beaten

with a punch
the carved end

striking out
two flowers.

This day
the young

men, sternum
in the water

swim below
the cutter races

Women used to
pass into

the public buildings
with a blue jug

on their heads
and stand

like statues
with the noses

knocked off,
commemorating

the signing