Eminent Domain

Homs

They say Huhms, not Homs—oh pronounced u, surprise expressed only in English, would-be partisans don’t hear “you.” Barrons’ At a Glance, shows o as in “dog,” man’s best friend, unless you know the mutt is you. ABC’s begin “Ah,” right to left, and no is “la” where there’s no o and dogs are unclean, bloodied whiners.

I remember a bridge, the university, the bus stop— I am a witness without a record, just names I learned to say, for my students, dead and alive, long graduated and left behind.