Casual inspections
in passing,
while screaming sirens
approach the near distance
in each step, heels
balance a shadow of promise,
the chance for head-turning acceptance
or whatever rules the urban heart.
objects glisten behind glass
barricades as
graffiti jungle rhythm
grips the spliff,
lifts steam, a dream
the smell of streets
on the level of sewage beneath
metal welded with oil and steel
sweat, then chills, the mercury reports
waiting for the bus, the train
a limousine
to see me
anonymous within
bright lights of flashing
destiny
celebrity media hyped
green
and robbed of reality
escape the screen
of virtual platforms
after purchase
counting change and posting bills
talent floats the actors,
as the buildings scrape the sky
and it begins to rain onstage
as I walk
face down, head so heavy,
so full of
effortless clouds and
city pollen
my legs, my transportation
my mind, my travel
among each passing stone face
the person,
growing between the cracks
of expression
Singing and choking on
What it means to be completely whole
Complete
While the
walk sign guides
the red glows from the bumpers
and a single green light-
makes the spectacle yellow
a blurred vision on a drunk night
she is alone and missing
from somewhere, someone out there
within an island of millions
and jade
China town after the defeat
after the public beating
the champ
lost in red and golden dragons
the absent sun and soggy steps
of tiny Asian feet
weeping
foreign locality
fish wrapped in currency
current wind
what we can say
when we don’t understand
as the China clock ticks
and symbols explain
My worth in exchange
Always tomorrow, or when I’ll be gone
your phones spill from the ear
Magnetic sucking sounds from the edge of nowhere-
From everywhere at once
Clues and information
Streaming during the flood
Yearning to reflect and gasp a laugh
of the creeping guilt of gluttony
Selflessness hidden in the flesh
Each day I grow,
harder to hold
each day, the man begs again,
Same corner, same spot
I frown
As if I am the clown
Beaten down the drag
Work drag and sullen shadows
of another
grey day-
a queen and an old umbrella,
a make-shift roof
To block the spit
As it pours
But again, buildings block the sun,
My hope, my memory
Of home
Another step further away-
The way we ran together
Mindless passing walking blindly past,
blocks of concrete
Landmarks, tombs,
Strength built by man with machine-
This machine
Breathes day in and day out
I believe
My chest tightens on the speed
Speed of wheels grind along the tracks
Screeching screams of robotic taking
Taking for granted
The train, the underground, the shelter
My home five stories above
The ground
Full of living memories
Never ending paragraphs
needing what more I can see-
At this moment,
Only hope stares back at me
On the other side of my dirty window
Craving cigarettes
And a walk that will not prosecute
My attempt at solidarity
To stand for who I am
Another attempt
To read the newspaper
Without bias or resentment
A corner store
Frozen fruit
Expired milk
Foreign friendliness among
Guttural coughs, sagging skin
refugee and coffee
More strangers, clipping news
Telling me my secrets,
the ones written across my face
misread
Written in some expression of sadness
Contours of age and demise
Shape shifting posture,
Wobbly knees…
But I am young, I think
I need something, I don’t know
There’s always the American dream
Wall street
Walls built to surround
my bitter insides and distaste
like a fortress
to the awakening of
the state of man
My understanding is
a hopeless waste of time
Sorrow
the small child on the bus-
the old woman walking backwards-
To church
So I pray, as well
Under stained glass
Spell my name in an echo
For only God to hear,
As if I were a patron
I stare
I care
Forgive me, for I know not what I do,
Crucify me if it means that much to you
No telling tales of
losing myself,
I am
I was
A stranger, a siren,
A bell.
-sabrina scott
