City
This city is an old man-
Back broken beneath the
Weight of all the years before.
Buildings jut out
Weary bones, thin rib cages.
Gaping window eyes blink
Broken glass tears.
This city is an old man-
Skin of buildings crumble into
Waves of wrinkles and sorrow.
Wheezing he shudders and
Wheezing he moans and
Feels his body falling away
With the years.
This city is an old man-
Breathe too hard and it will
Return to the dust.
Train comes through
As the Old Man whistles,
But the bricks of these buildings
Crack and groan every time
Old Man moves
And the sky like his eyes are
Dimming in the night
And the young ones are springing up all around,
Forgetting him, leaving him behind-
My city is the city of an old man
Dilapidated, mourning older days,
Running to catch up to younger days
And everyone sees this old man,
This old city,
And says
“Well, bless your heart.”