6553. THIS ONE HAS TO BE DARK

THIS ONE HAS TO BE DARK

When the lights go out, Cleveland is helpless.

In such an utter darkness  -  without street lamps  -

no one knows what to expect. The case is to be 

made for anarchy breaking out? In rows, one

after the other, all the houses are shaking. 

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The first blackout I experienced escaped me.

I was not at home; 80 miles away, 1964 or so,

the entire world in New York City was so dark

long enough that nine months later there was

a local surge in births. Go figure the odds.

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They said the whole east coast went black.

I was more Philadelphia than New York City

at that time, and deep in the Jersey Pines whatever

light there was anyway seemed to just stay on. 

Radios, lights, TV's, and even bare bulbs. On.