So picture this:
The city throws its hats in puddles;
They do not sink but float.
February thunderstorms, whirlwinds and blizzards;
The tempest of my heartbeat echoes in the temples
And synchronizes with thrumming-thudding teardrops.
And windowpanes shudder in convulsions—
Oh, why is it so very soporific?
The world's an oyster—shells and pearls,
Opposing wills on scales,
Unbalanced, stifling, they undulate,
They percolate into our lives.
The city dwells within its walls. It leaves reflections
In rippling puddles. These spires, towers, dormers...
I am no tourist to this city, not anymore.
But are we friends? I am no stranger,
But are we pals?
The streets are empty, dormant, flooding
With streams of water and my consciousness.
Where to? Quo vadis?
It's eating me, it's feeding me;
Its fading profile in the face of omni-reaching mist
Is lost on me. I'm missing it; I'm failing it.
***
Red rubber boots, offhand, they make their move;
The city sinks in flat, concentric waves.
About the Creator
Andrei Z.
Overthinker.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
On Winning and Losing
Recently, the pleasant surprise of placement on the Vocal Bonus Leaderboard sent me down a rabbit hole. Now, rabbit holes are a pretty common place for me to spend time, but I don't always feel the call to write about them. To be honest, the thought of sharing some of them mortifies me.
By Dana Crandell3 days ago in Writers
Comments (25)
Great poem Andrei - Congrats on your Top Story btw ❤️❤️❤️
Hi Andrei, Suze Kay here - just wanted to let you know I wrote a little bit about this poem in this post: https://vocal.media/journal/suze-is-hunting-muses-2 Thank you so much for sharing your words. They made a real impact on me!
Congrats on Top Story!🥳🥳🥳
Congratulations for TS. I love the mood you captured here, with lines like The city throws its hats in puddles, gorgeous 😍
congrats,
I feel this "I am no tourist to this city, not anymore. But are we friends? I am no stranger, But are we pals?" Really well done. Congrats on the TS.
Andrei, your poem invites readers to consider their relationship with the busy metropolis by skillfully capturing the complex dance between urban life and introspection. Excellent work!
Your poem paints a mesmerizing picture of urban life and introspection. The imagery you use, from floating hats to rippling puddles, is captivating. Keep exploring these themes; your words have the power to resonate deeply with others. Well done!
"Reflections" can refer to introspection, contemplation, or the image of something seen in a mirror or shiny surface. It often involves thinking deeply about oneself, experiences, or life in general. Reflection can lead to personal growth, understanding, and new perspectives. It's a valuable practice for self-awareness and learning from past experiences. Taking time for reflection can be beneficial for mental health and overall well-being. https://lavaloungehouston.com/
Reminds me of the song broken city by audioslave
Wow, this is lovely!
This awesome. So beautiful to behold.
💚☺️
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Powerful imagery and highly evocative.Well done. Congratulations!
This felt reminiscent of Whitman's poetry about New York City, with perhaps more undertones of aimlessness. Exquisite.
This was very visual, I loved it. The images of rain and a person unsure of their place in a city. Maybe they’ve been there a while but not long enough to call it home. I enjoyed the unique flow of this too. Great job!
Superb work! Keep it up—congratulations!
I felt sure I'd left a comment on this about the city being reflected in a puddle and you stomping on it but nope, not here. So congrats anyway!
This is so well written I like how you use metaphorical language to convey a sense of both chaos and introspection
"It's eating me, it's feeding me". This line looks so short and simple but it was so profound! Gosh your poem was so powerful and I loved it!
This felt like a storm of consciousness, so powerful in showing the disorientation of being lost in yourself, lost in a place that should feel like safety. I love the tempo to it all, love your posed questions. The city is a character, and it feels like such an intentional and confrontational dance in the rain. Gorgeous writing.
Isolation & loneliness within a home that does not welcome, a city that does not house, & even a puddle that no longer reflects any but distorted photons.
Andrei, this poem rocked me. I love the parasocial conversation you’ve entered into with the city, the push and pull of your language and its meaning. Gorgeous work. It’s eating me, it’s feeding me.
The poem skillfully captures the mood and atmosphere of a city caught amid a storm, while also exploring deeper themes of identity, belonging, and introspection. Well done!