A most peculiar cul-de-sac
Of buildings whose tears,
Rusted permanently beneath
Ill-fitting frames and glass,
Drip in shades of brown and grey
No different than the dust
Of the earth.
Outside the sun begins to laze
About and loiter for a bit longer
To enjoy the scenes that seem
To unfold from newly
Invigorated spirits of inhabitants
Once cloistered solemnly to
Escape the cold.
A young girl cries on a bench
Colored haphazardly by
A drunken rainbow with
A socket wrench of Chinese make,
Unsure of how to process
This evening cacophony
In the air.
Yells and cheers as balls
Reverberate on cracked concrete
That has been painted faded
Pastels as crude delineation of
Imagined boundaries to show
Everyone where the bounds are
When they step out.
Young men stand outside small shops
And kick dirt pensively as they
Try to decide upon which depressing
Aspect of their teenage lives
To revolt against, ultimately deciding
That everything is revolting and
It’s easier to squat.
Cars zip up and down crooked roads
Designed without them in mind,
Humming and sputtering and blaring
Their horns to get the owners of others
To move their machines out of the way
So that they can wedge their tires
In peace of mind.
Darkness falls and the sun decides
It’s time to finally call it quits on the city,
Slinking downward, street lamps
Flicker on and some continue to flicker
Late into the night, providing lighting
For the street-night dance party that
No one attends.
Only moments ago children chased
One another as their parents
Chatted idly, leaning on metal
Fences meant to keep dogs
Away from the grass, but they
End up there anyway because
The gaps are too big.
The street is somewhat quiet, nothing
Really outside except for the young band
Of aimless teens seeking that sweet
Embrace of a cheap thrill shrouded in
The safety of blinding darkness and
drunken men down on their luck having spent
The last of their money.
Composed 05/11/2013
Author’s Note: An interesting piece to be posting in the dead of Mongolian autumn, no? A good juxtaposition for the season, I suppose. The signs of life that come to be during this period is really a marvel to behold, especially considering how lifeless most areas are during the evening in winter. A blossoming of hidden life. I rather enjoy it, and look forward to seeing it happen again.
Two Second Street 