Fifty year old carnations are dead carnations

 We march down the avenue.

Chants and slogans and banners.

It was expected and surprising

            for us to be so many.

A feeling of empowerment

                surrounds me

                but doesn't penetrate into me.

The next steps are the past steps.

The next steps are

                drinks with comrades

                dinner with friends

                tomorrow is a workday

The next steps are

                to take us where we just arrived

                                    where we already are.

Maybe it's time to stop for a moment

                        to ask for directions.