Toledo Cathedral. Poem by Neil Harding McAlister (Neil McAlister). Traveler's Tales: Contemporary formal poetry.

Toledo Cathedral

Neil Harding McAlister

Back in the New World outdated, old rubbish

Ends up on tables where “antiques” are sold.

Here in the gloom of Toledo’s cathedral,

We gaze on statues six hundred years old.

If they could have spoken, what would they have told?

Humbling to think that Spain’s powerful monarchs

Trod these same flagstones in centuries past.

Costumed in elegant robes and rich jewels,

Down through the ages long shadows they cast.

For good or ill did their legacies last?

Making a living from long faded glory,

Merchants in town hawk from souvenir stands.

One of these items must be to your liking --

Maybe a sword that was made in Japan?

A full suit of armor would look truly grand!

Out in the plaza, admire modern fashion:

Girls wear hip-hugging jeans cut down to there,

Meant to entrance all the young caballeros --

Not three old tourists with thinning, gray hair.

Out of politeness we try not to stare.

Gone are the days when a pert señorita

Stirred thoughts of love in these middle-aged men.

Hard to believe that the years flew so quickly!

Times of our carefree youth won't come again;

But for this week we’re still three footloose friends.

In the café we remember the old times --

Keep them alive so the memories won’t pale!

Rest your sore feet while the world hurries past us,

Quaff your cervesa and tell us your tale,

Measured with shots of espresso and ale!

Don’t you recall when the world was a theme park,

Made for a young man’s amusement alone?

Nowadays we aren’t such arrogant visitors,

Knowing we’re guests in these good people’s home.

They have agendas and lives of their own.

In a few days we’ll be boarding an airplane

Bound to where wives, kids and offices call,

Grateful once more to embrace the familiar,

‘Til we embark for adventures next fall.

Sublime and ridiculous, we’ve seen it all !

Toledo, Spain

September, 2003