Airshafts
by Odin odin@aflx.com — Read all 3,869 poems by Odin odin@aflx.com
For some of us, influences of the survival years in New York can have surprising impact on the called-upon imagination.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Airshafts
by Odin Roark
Ah
tenements of New York
land of sky-less windows
tenuous creaking walk-ups
masonry decay
doors begging forced entrance
bonus airshafts for all
Vintage ‘57 Ave C
little to brag about
frugal demanded frugal
survival meant survive
cross ventilation was…
well
memorable
Operative word
Ugh
Sunrises were special
lift the blinds
raise the window
view the shaft
revisit one's silo to Hell
where the memories
“…your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”
delivers the smell of decay
the stickiness of smothering dampness
the urge to rush back to bed
Such was the reward for some
For others
those who looked
not to look
but to see
embraced elemental forms
imbued shaded objects
found historical nuance
honored urban compost
imagined growth of another kind
gregarious tendrils climbing
basement to 3rd floor summit
nurtured by conscious rebellion
But complain not
we loin clad warriors of creativity
standing tall at airshaft’s ledge
watching from what floor
dropped careless memories
acrid generational drek, kak, zmal, govno, go se, and coño
crap and shit notwithstanding
expressions of equal-opportunity-ethnicity
Occasionally
amidst the pungent cross ventilation
one wondered
from which escape-hatch fell
Tinker Toy dreams
Raggedy Ann delusions
Flipper-crutch anger
BB Gun pay-backs
Children all
small and large
we lived among innocent hearts of hope
some with pen
brush
keyboard
baton
and crayon
Others
sadly splayed
fisted
punctured
bleeding
Airshafts
If one listens carefully
there are still the echoes
Yesterday's inhalant endings
today's aerated imaginings
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... have to admit, on my three visits to Manhattan so far, this is what I've viewed - perhaps through my visitors' rosy-tinted glasses?
Your descriptions of the Big Apple's children are vividly contrasting, Odin, and it's easy to see and understand that the therefore very mixed skyscraper forest that will grow up from their germinating seeds will produce leaves giving off a fascinating blend of noxious and purifying airs for citizens to breathe. Doubtless the up-coming holiday season will be a happy hunting ground for your own creativity and mental stimulation over the next few days. I look forward to enjoying the results in the coming year. With love and best wishes to you, Kate xx
there are still the echoes
And if one writes as well as you do,
The reader can envision it all.