My Zehlendorf

For Stella Busch-Witte

Before coming to America in 1958
I lived in Berlin-Zehlendorf or Berlin 37.
On my first day of school in 1937
I received the long awaited
traditional cardboard cone of sweets,
the Zuckertüte, which was pure heaven.
Zehlendorf was mentioned in 1245
as Cedelendorp, or settlement village, but I’ve
always thought of Zehlen as zählen, which means to count.
The noun “ Zahl” means “number” in an amount.
Then there’s the verb “erzählen” which means to tell a tale.
I had just written my poem, The Numbers Tell The Tale.
I wrote it for the fan- or funzine, Black Sheep.
All its 144 issues
are with the Jane Roberts Papers at Yale, to keep.
After writing my poem, Black Sheep 141,
a cool thing happened. The fun had begun.
Centering my poem, Pi day 2019, a circular form can clearly be seen.
Like my poem Bluebells, which is shaped like a bell, this bodes well.
141 follows the decimal point of the mathematical constant pi.
The 3 of pi reminds me of three of my Zehlendorfer childhood friends
now living in Switzerland. Why?
Dialing first 011, then 41 for Switzerland
and, for two of my friends yet another 41,
there’s always, at least, one 141,
which is also the beginning
of the greater Zehlendorf’s zip. Ute, get a grip.
Numbers can numb. But, when all is said and done
they are truly amazing and, oh, so much fun.
Zehlendorf, where my cradle stood, we are never apart.
Your lakes and pine forests, your Grunewald,
like a faraway birdsong
live on in my heart.

Ute Kabooolian