avenues of uprise

 

 

 

        everything uneasy
        in modern society
        was manufactured behind the
        half-closed blinds of America -
        the home of the Potential
                and the Beast – and yet

        it is so beautiful the space
        sculpted by the facades
                of apartment blocks
        huge arm-width apart
        whole communities
        of single windows
        some decorated some balcony’d
        some stepped back up on top
                avenues of uprise
        reaching higher or lower
        again and again
                and again

        America has intense history
        since it braved the decision
                to make its land free
        You cleansed by ethnically
                assimilating
        You pledged by conforming
                allegiance
        Someone had to make a stand
                against equivocation
        and by God Almighty
                We made it
        We made a continental infrastructure
                of it
        far bigger far more reaching even
                than law and democracy

        but there is such width in your sadness -
                lilac blossom in front of marble facades
        there is such height in your sadness -
                giddy out on your balcony giddy
                looking eight floors more above you
        there is such blank in your sadness -
                when you skip my English joke
                and call ‘you’re welcome’ from the till
        there is such sadness when you ask for change
                outside Starbucks

                even the trees I look at
        through the hotel window

                even the doormen in fine brown suits
        smiling for tips

                even the wide sidewalk cleaned
        for strolling and not curbing

        all Had

 

 

 

… part of: Manhattan 2012
society wormhole: kids these days
lilac wormhole: 1968

 

everything

 

 

 

                everything
          created for living
          beyond subsistence

                everything
          produced at cost
          through labour

                everything
          earned through labour
          if you can get it

                everything
          obtained at a price
          at a sacrifice

                everything
          experienced at cost
          through trademark

                everything
          had but no one there
          to have it

 

 

 

… part of: Manhattan 2012
compromise wormhole: bargain

 

weekend

 

 

 

                                     weekend

edge of Central Park   constant joggers   dividing poles in the road   medical response cruising flashing lights no siren   turquoise bicycle frame   tourist bus one standing up   tall boy skinny stopped constant sun-smile not sure if he should be   tulips under John Purroy Mitchell   “attention” (French) child trying to pick up whole branch to carry   silver trainers lace loops Mickey Mouse ears   couple leg-swinging holding onto traffic lights slight jiggle always green

 

 

 

… part of: Manhattan 2012

blue walnut

 

 

 

                                                              blue walnut

                                  the always waiting wide open
            gulp and sorry of the impressionist blue sidewalk
               and the walnut marble cladding frontage

 

 

 

… part of: Manhattan 2012

room 506 / Central Park

 

 

 

                                   room 506
                                   Central Park

                      already I am become
                      familiar branch leans
                      apricot street lights white
                      path lights traffic lights
                      sparrow calls of buildings
                      between traffic and
                      lmmmdmda-lmmmdmda – laersssh
                      through rain dusty windows all
                      under grey sky steel clouds
                      and shifting charcoal

 

 

 

… part of: Manhattan 2012

‘travelled a long time …’

 

 

 

                      travelled a long time
                      tired arrived in New York
                      still the same person
                      roads scraped and pockmarked
                      no change since I wanted
                      to come here as a teen
                      trees still reach and lean
                      in front of the sky
                      city people still live city life
                      living money breathing money
                      the power of money

                      lights go on in the evening and
                      in between traffic shoals
                      the sparrows bicker in the trees

 

 

 

… part of: Manhattan 2012
evening wormhole: ‘the breezy …’
travelling wormhole: ‘staring through the glass …’

 

Heathrow / Airport

 

 

 

                                                              Heathrow
                                                              Airport

morning effect light shifting mist hanging round the base of the sky
wide wide land low spread buildings always on the horizon flat matt
before the sun flanks their edges into 3D radar spinning
spotlights turn off arms of cranes reaching over and over and

control
tower

 

 

 

… part of: Manhattan 2012
mist & horizon wormhole: on the hill