VOLKER BRAUN

we hoped the GDR
with Brecht back
from the Un Americans,
its theater reopens
under currents
of social justice
in spite of the wall
the stasi,
at Checkpoint Charlie
or when you walk down
karl marx stadt
or out him here
thinking is this the socialism
he had in mind for mankind
yet being German and content
regimental and sentimental
there are reasons for being down
when the wall came down.