Chalcis

The Asli Elif sits across the road
Flying her Turkish flag
In this Greek port

Where the tides turn
Back and forth
Over the years

Swirling and curling
Under the old bridge

In Chalcis
Where the infantry trains

The July sun bakes the pavements
And cicadas scream

Butterflies refuse to lift

Heat—so much heat in this island town
The sun frying the dry hills

Like a short-order cook

Beating down
On the fortress
Built by the Ottoman Empire
Over three centuries ago

The Asli Elif
Still flying its flag