c lynn brooks
Jun 14, 2020

The City's Other Face

The city is bathed in neon stars
the deafening noise is wafting from the bars
a cardboard bed beneath the stairs
decay and decadence fill the air

Say there mister,can you spare a dime
for another taste of rot gut wine
are you lonely in need of a friend
for fifty dollars the night she'll spend

Footsteps echo through dark corridors
sick panic arises, when you know they're not yours
to needle park the ambulance sped
one overdosed the other is dead the
the man that is holding a knife
is saying your money or your life

The city night can be heartless and cold
it steals the mind
then rapes the soul

About This Poem

Last Few Words: Visitors to NYC only see the lights and glam when you have lived,went to school and worked there you see the real city

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Region, Country: north carolina usa, USA

Favorite Poets: Leonard Cohen

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Comments

Geezer

Geezer

4 years 10 months ago

is what you have given us. Nice rhyme and the real deal, behind the scenes. ~ Geez.
.

Lavender

Hi, Chrys,
Pretty raw stuff, here. Your last line seals the meaning.
Thank you,
L

Gracy

Gracy

4 years 10 months ago

Dear Lynn, good poem, the end rhymes are perfect and you've painted a picture of raw reality. Difficult to swallow, but that's a poet's job, it's what we do. Here we have the city of Buenos Aires, with all its C19 patients and also many robberies, ill treatment of women and so on.
Fortunately, where I live, so far all is tranquil and we can walk everyday day, outside our property.
The final lines of your poem are heart rending, very good. I'll return for another read. All the best.

C

thank you for coming by I live in a city now but do not get out much

C

Thank you
yes I did live there,went to school there and worked there so I saw this face of the city