I wanted to tame the city
Like a man tames a lion
But instead
Like a woman
Tames a man
I was subdued by
Its splendor and its beauty
Skyscrapers stretched upward
Like long silvery legs
Pointing to the sky
Which hosted no moon
Helicopters flew above
Like fireflies
Lost in the dark
Realizing then
I was also enamored
By the darkness
The city drew me
Into its darkest holes
Ran by subways, vagrants
And the working class
Springing from the unknown
Falling like a hatchling
Born anew
Above the concrete and the dirt
My eyes adjusted fresh
To a different grandeur
Not seen where I was born
A place where life
And death commingle
The streets and its people
On leash by the city’s
Greatest charm
Unattainable wealth
But the grates
And the manhole covers
Hide the truth inside
Of which
I will not speak of
The rats are sensitive
And time is limited
And at least sleep
You won’t need
In this city
That never does
Leave a Reply