By A.E. Bayne
This city does not sleep.
A voice sends out a diatribe
on the other side of 6:15,
crazed life.
Here in a concrete tree house, glass and steel, block and metal,
(particulate life)
I face west out wide windows washed in dawn
brushing against stackable lives –
the vantage of a demi-god
seven heady floors above the ground
with a grand view from which to watch the inevitable race of time –
mosaic life,
a labyrinth teaming.
Through the night, a never-ending rhythm and clackery
below and above wake me on the hour,
orgasmic life persistently begging,
"Come, breathe with me."
All night, sheathed in sweat
as a fever of inconvenience swarms about,
I listen to the vibrant highs and lows
of the electric city below.
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- Here, There and Everywhere by Chris Roberson (Sci-fi, Alternate Reality)
- Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon--And the Journey of a Generation by Sheila Weller (Biography)
- Psychogeography: Disentangling the Modern Conundrum of Psyche and Place by Will Self and Ralph Steadman (Nonfiction, Psychology)
- Coming of Age With Elephants by Joyce Poole (Autobiography)
- Inventing English by Seth Lerer (Nonfiction, Historical, Etymological)
- Best American Essays 1996 and 2001
- Fox (Poems 1998-2000) by Adrienne Rich (Poetry)
- I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman by Nora Ephron (Autobiographical Essays)
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5 comments:
Brilliant; makes me jealous actually. I don't get very excited about life like that most days and I hardly ever get to be 7 stories high. Where were you when you wrote this?
I was spending some time with friends who have an apartment in D.C. I loved the view from their living room, but the noise and light through the windows were unfamiliar senses for me. I'm a D.C. native (well, right across the river), so I love the city. It is invigorating to visit, though I enjoy the 'burg as well.
I love the imagery in this poem, the absolute harshness of city, but also the absolute draw of it, too. Great work.
D.C. is a beautiful city, but it is harsh. I think about that often. It's a cold city with all its concrete and marble. The government seems cold too. But then you've got these fantastic natural elements surrounding you as well. I recently visited Arlington National Cem. and was struck by the juxtaposition of cold graves and buildings with gorgeous natural surroundings. It was a very yin/yang experience. Not to mention that you have to trek up a HUGE hill to get to the top...talk about living in a natural state. We need more of that these days!
Funny; I went to Arlington the other day to see a friend and drove right by my exit. Ended up having to drive a bit into Washington and then right back out by the cemetery. I'm always struck by the simple anal-ness of the many endless straight rows of headstones. It is a very beautiful place! Waaah, I miss Washington--we need a day trip!
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