They were glad enough to see

so much thrown in the dustbin

when the Wall came down;

but not the Ampelmännchen

the traffic light’s little green man

with his jaunty, Erich Honecker hat.

At the threat of his deposal

by the west’s staid cousin

there was outcry. Now

Herr Everyman’s cheery gait

sets Berlin’s tone on carrier bags,

coffee mugs, T-shirts.

Besid...

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