Listening for city warblers,
red cardinals perched on cement ledges,
impatient jays clinging to limbs.
Ears cringe at raucus horns,
cherry red vehicles rush
nowhere fast, just out of view.
Grey skies meld into buildings,
perfectly perpendicular
floor upon floor upon stack
upon stack upon stacks.
Right angles everywhere.
My lawn chair, an oxymoron
on this outdoor slab,
seven floors up, walls on three sides.
Eyes close so memory can recall
morning Kiskadee songs at dawn,
Bermuda’s blue upon blue horizon
where shimmering waters touch the sky.
Written for Open Link Night at dVerse Poets’ Pub.
lillian the home poet 
Bermuda’s blue upon blue horizon
where shimmering waters touch the sky.
Stellar close to an incredible poem ❤
Lots of love,
Sanaa
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Such a lovely thing to say 🙂 Many thanks! So glad you enjoyed.
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I never knew that balconies were such a tease. Still, for us apartment dwellers it is often as good as it gets. I, too, shall close my eyes and summon birdsong. ♥
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So many in our building have closed in their balconies to have an extension on their living room or an “extra” alcove. We crave the outdoors — even in the city — so we sit and look out at the cityscape — the buildings that blend into the sky — but it is outdoors.
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Living in NYC, I completely understand the need to escape and the need for space.
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Yes! Always so glad we live near the Charles to walk along the river — or some time to sit in Boston Commons. Similar I expect to why people enjoy Central Park in the midst of the urban sprawl.
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This makes me feel bad for the times I’ve complained about the neighbor’s noise from my backyard deck chair.
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😦
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I really love how you weave that geometry that contrast so well with birdsong and that wonderful blue… I think you have made the city wonderful
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We love city life — but truly miss the beauty and water of Bermuda! Two months there was heavenly:)
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I love sitting on outdoor terraces, and this brought it all back. Loved.
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Sitting outdoors, with a city scape or the Bermuda Harbor — it’s the need for the outdoor air we crave. So very glad our city condo has a balcony — even if it does look out on buildings.
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The cardinals sequeing into those wondrous kiskadees! When I lived in the city, sometimes it was so hard to find that bit of blue, that lone birdsong among the clatter.
perfectly perpendicular
floor upon floor upon stack
upon stack upon stacks…..life in the asphalt jungle perched among the cement mountains…My husband said to me last night, as we were sitting on our lawn chairs breathing in the honeysuckle….I wish we’d win the lottery so we could buy one of those NY fancy high rise apartments….I must confess, I got up and felt his forehead to see if he had contracted a sudden fevered delirium. I said, listen…and you could hear the cardinals, wrens, finches, jays – all of them bustling about getting ready for bed. And, I gave an ominous pause, the city can stink in the summer!
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“asphalt jungle perched among the cement mountains” – exactly. Although I must admit, I do enjoy our city deck more in the evening — when the lights are on in so many of those windows — but – I’d much prefer stars — which are unseen here because of light pollution.
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There are certain charms to living in the city. But, like you said, no stars.
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Agree with Sanaa – a very evocative piece with such a perfect finish… Don’t think I’ve been here before? But will certainly be back again. With Best Wishes Scott
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So gladd you enjoyed! Please do stop by, and meander here any time. Usually I’m replying and reading over my morning cup — this evening, decided to respond over my chardonnay! 🙂
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The splashes of color are visual; the sounds symphonic. The city stink? Thankfully, I have no sense of smell! One to read out loud! And I will.
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Well — no stink here. But the sounds of the city are intermingled with the birds — living smack dab in the middle of Boston has many advantages. Carless….we take public transportation or walk everywhere……..but we do enjoy the outdoors so walking along the Charles, hiking through the city, and sitting on our deck are favorites. But — after two months in Bermuda, our deck view onto the cement jungle is just not the same as our deck view of those amazing harbor waters and the sound of the bright yellow Kiskadees! 🙂
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I admire the city’s little gifts from nature but nothing beats I am sure, those memories of you and your family back in Bermuda with:
Bermuda’s blue upon blue horizon
where shimmering waters touch the sky.
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Exactly! But — instead of the stars at night, we have twinkling lights from those literally thousands of windows — trade-offs for sure.
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As someone, who dreads heights, with extreme prejudice, I salute you, for your courage, of standing on your 7th floor terrace. As a fellow city dweller, I have various songbirds share their daily harmonies, outside my 2nd floor window, as I wake up to them. But, to have memories of Bermuda, is sweet beyond believe.
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Well, they say, places in the city cost more the higher up you go — 7th floor fit our budget in our 15 floor building. Our Bermuda deck looking out on the harbor was truly a muse — but now that summer is here, I must say, I do enjoy sitting out on our city deck in the early AM with my morning coffee, journal in hand. I just crave the out of doors — city or seascape! 🙂
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You have me at birds. They have a way of inhabiting poetry so well. That last line – where shimmering waters touch the sky – is a perfect contrast to the photo. Love this!
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So glad you enjoyed! Will get to my readig in the AM with my morning cup. Just responding tonight withy my evening chardonnay 🙂
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Aw! We are kindred spirits! Working on my evening Carmenere, but it’s all about the coffee!
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I love sitting on terraces. There is always peace in the outdoors even in the city.
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I totally agree! 🙂
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No lawn but the view must be great…
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Well…..the daytime view is not so hot, as the photo shows. But at night time, if you can’t have the stars, it’s at least nice to have twinkling lights from literally thousands of windows as you look out. 🙂
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Yes there is that perspective Lillian…..have a great weekend.
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So true.. over the din of urban life is the silence within that summons bird song!!
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“din or urban life” — so well statted. The sirens, horns, car motors, airconditioning hum…..but there is still the ability to get out and about — and to sit out and feel real air rather than air conditioner blasts 🙂
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This really makes me despise right angles! I really need to get out into the country more to hear and see the birds!
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Smiling I am! Have you heard of Hundterwasser? May have it spelled wrong. He built a very famous house in Vienna that has zero right angles (think about that) and also has a tree growing within it! 🙂
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I think that I’ve heard of that place…would be interesting to see!
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Wow, I can feel the longing you have for another place of solace…
I really enjoyed your descriptions of the city view….”My lawn chair, an oxymoron on this outdoor slab”..and…”cherry red vehicles rush nowhere fast” . Despite the concrete jungle, you found peace in the outdoors with those beautiful birds to accompany you.
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Peace is where you make it, right? 😊. Glad you enjoyed. Wrote ahead and scheduled in — old college friends arrive tomorrow for five days. My early morning routine will stay intact as they are later sleepers! ☕️
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i Love the siGn of a free
bird flYinG iN thE
sprawl of Big
City Stress..
murder on the
24 hour news circuit..
muggings around the back..
as the birds just fly and do
what they do.. and yes… i
too.. am that free bird too..:)
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So well said, Katie! 😊
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Thanks.. My
friend..
Lillian..:)
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The concrete jungle cannot contain the mind’s penchant for memory, nostalgia, and imagination. I cringed wit you at the horns, and strained to hear the birdies. Excellent poem.
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Glad you enjoyed! Nice to see your reply over my morning cup of joe!
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