Belknap at Haifa

the race down the slopes of Haifa
   staggered stairs
   that cause laughter
   and terror
   and biologic memory
   at the gun women
   in the underground
   funicular
   their curly hair shiny
      for the reflection
      of the
      American sailors

and now we raced
   downward
   as bruises dawned

until return to the pier
port of Haifa
drunk and out of breath

we raced the final steps
across the late-night gangway