Home » Poems » Roxanne Andorfer » To Karin: Brandenburg Gate

To Karin: Brandenburg Gate

Like some dark frail bird
she quivered and fluttered
there at my door
one dark cold Advent night,
swearing to return
come the new year
with a photo of Brandenburg Gate.

Arms, hands, fingertips, eyes,
then nothing between us
but electrified space –
her light tread descending the steps –
my heart drawn downward
by the diminishing sound.

Sometimes still my heart is snared
between winter
a swirling hem
and Brandenburg Gate
and I write a letter
which will never be mailed 
to Karin.

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Jasmine Tsai

Date: 5/26/2025 9:00:00 PM

This is such a strong piece... My heart aches at the last line, at the letter wrote and just resting there, never delivered. Beautiful and emotional work, thank you for posting it.

Roxanne Andorfer
Date: 5/27/2025 2:58:00 AM

Thank you, Jasmine! Karin had a big impact on me, as you may have guessed by the fact that I've written four poems about her.