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The street lights, for some reason,
aren’t on today
and in the dark, even rain comes on
tiptoes
the traffic’s still gridlocked
beneath the windows
but it’s quieter, because light has
got a way
to amplify sound. One streetful of darkness
has dialled down urban angst and
calmed the restless.
The balcony here wears no trellised shadows
no umbras, penumbras of leaves
filigreed
against the walls – those arabesque
patterns need
a strong light, a municipal lamp
that glows
at railing height. No one’s willing
to disturb
this chiffon silence, the cars
crawl past the kerb.
The streetlights haven’t been switched on this evening
a minor malfunction, human or
machine
a sensor perhaps that hasn’t
signalled green.
Some epiphanies only darkness brings,
that light fails to show. A small
error has led
to a darkened lane, cars going past
muted.
I've been reading more than I've been writing - old favourites in poetry, where even if the eyes get a bit blurry, the lines are known so one can do without crystal clear anything, recognise the words from their shapes on the page anyway.
Edna St Vincent Millay, Emily Dickinson, Auden, Neruda, Yeats - the all time smash hits. Mary Oliver and Maya Angelou, of course. Some Mahmoud Darwish, top of mind right now because of the conflict.
Some children's poetry as well, Eletelephony is guaranteed to cheer me up every time. I love Escape at Bedtime and this one of Shel Silverstein too. Escape from the doom and gloom in the blink of an eye. What is your favourite children's poem? Do you have any favourites? What do you read when you get exhausted with the headlines?
Love the phrase chiffon silence - it expresses the fragility so well.
ReplyDeleteAnd also love the silence of the night/early morning. I tend to reread old favourites too when I am overwhelmed. And they could well be 'children's stories'.
Childhood favourites are the best. Glad you enjoyed the poem.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteNo, in times of overwhelm I resort to nature; sitting in or beside it and letting it enfold me, releasing words. As much as it is possible to do. YAM xx
Of course. You are surrounded by such beauty. Nature is where all need of language stops. <3
DeleteWhen the street lights aren't on here, it means there is seriously bad weather and you probably aren't supposed to be on the road.
ReplyDeleteBut this reminds me more of a song.
Broadway- song by Goo Goo Dolls
That's a great song, but rather darker than what this 'ere is. :) Street lights in tiny neighbourhood alleys fail once in a while over here without any real reason, they come back on again sometime later, in between there is a quality to a very different urban evening.
DeleteI do like how darkness or a snowy day does mute everything. I've been reading assorted magazines and books, plus watching Olympics to avoid news. I do like Mary Oliver and Billy Collins. Dr. Seuss was my childhood go to.
ReplyDeleteI love Billy Collins! And I still read Dr Seuss, Green Eggs and Ham was a favourite. :)
DeleteHi Nila - we were brought up on Flanders and Swann, and Kipling, and Lear ... I do go back to them on occasions. I'm afraid I rather mentally wander around thinking about all kinds of things ... but your sentence 'One streetful of darkness has dialled down urban angst and calmed the restless.' we need lots of those now ... take care and thanks for the nod to your poets ... I tried a Leonard Cohen recently ... his 'Book of Longing' - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteLeonard Cohen is a favourite! More into his songs than the books though. We do need a lot of calm and darkness is not going to bring it. Have a great weekend.
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