IN THE CITY

In the city
I remember green you can smell
and breezes you can hear;
Clean rain
Silent mists
Spider webs glistening
and solitude
that stretches far and wide…

In the city
I live with mostly greys,
Harsh vivid colors
slicing it in pieces;
The smell of industy
Burning coffee beans like tar;
Howling traffic
Pressing crowds,
eye never meeting eye
and solitude
a tight defense around you…

In the city
time is cut in segments
unforgiving
resistant to the slightest
alteration of The Plan:
Run
against the changing of the light;
Wait
on automated command;
Answer
authority’s demand
for identity and purpose;
Justify
your presence
As if this is a place
you want to be…

In the city.

_{CL Redding}