A strange poem that happened on the way to school, walking through the sounds of the city. |
City Singing Darkness parts to my alarm clock bleating One tone rising, then two and three The ditty persisting insistence I slap it silent and rise from hibernation Kitchen clock tick-ticking off the wall time running rampant, barely enough to jump from shower, drip-dripping, quick nibbling, blush, glossed lips Waking to my key click-click-clicking past tumblers locking inside from hall feet thump-thump-thump sleepy carpet foyer door swinging out to louder sounds Gritty city sidewalks beneath my feet, I settle into step-stepping my well-worn ways, silence behind my eyes. Ever moving, yet at rest An orange hand blinks on-off-on-off-on Halting me at a precipice of asphalt Metal monsters whoosh-whoosh-whoosh past, their vacuum tugging at my breath Lights cycle, I'm a wave ebbing-flowing, washing across crosswalk, feet tap-tapping to the beat of a tune: the man alongside quietly humming Mozart or Beethoven Veer to oncoming train, tracks clack-clacking doors sliding-dinging-sliding Skateboarder's head bobbing wires leaking strands of Pandora Jump out and halt, seeing a surreal moment: A strange lady passing, chanting a native war cry. A breeze playing a crescendo of tumbling leaves A homeless man murmuring a nursery rhyme Ukulele chords riff from a passing cafe And I'm convinced the city is singing to me! Am I still asleep or finally shaken awake to a magic behind every moment in time Is the city trilling to so many feet beating, bridge wires tuning to car tires turning? I'm amazed to find unfocused eyes, an oblivious crowd, as blind to the sound as The woman's whose white cane tap-tap-taps concrete behind me. And I imagine she wields a baton to a secret symphony of thousands only her ears can fathom Finally I'm smiling, heart tock-ticking, Happily picking a song to make mine, dancing, singing, Oh, Miki, you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind, hey, Miki (48 lines) |