Streets of Vilnius (I)

This is the first part of a series of photos from a recent trip to Vilnius, one of my favorite cities in Europe. With each visit, I see new layers of uncompleted change, which, to me, is best represented by its spirited youth against the backdrop of its medieval old town. It reminds me of this short, sharp poem by the Sigitas Geda, a Lithuanian poet who died (too soon) in 2008. (You may click on the images for a larger view.)

AN UNFINISHED DRAWING ON THE STREET

relentlessly
leftovers
of
humanity
some
meat
horrible
as
earth
cut into
by
an excavator

obstructs
the beautiful
faces
of dead
nations

(from Biopsy in Winter, 2008)