Page 5 - Contrast1963Februaryv1n2

The City

Fast li~hts we approach--
closer we come to the pulse-beat of the city.
The teeming ~a~ses, screa~ing BeSses acho
in the da.rknCLG of e.nonynity.
We feel your sinister grasPi
the pull of' unknown fate, living and dying
in the secluded mystery of a st.r e et.co rnc r light.

Footstep s a s enpcy as sounds in a wel I 'Iiit.houc end
llake their Hay i.rrco ap at.hy and loneliness.
Lost f'er eweLl,s of a forgotten yesterday
come beck as sud: en Iy G sour ai)_Jroach.

BridGes ar e over tLe vc.i d plungin[; abrupt Iy into
the fantastic wor Ld of isolation and Lone l i.ne ss s
~;illions of sirens scr-ean tragedy and lose
theL:selves i~,the dry sounds of eve ryday grind
and grime of cement castles.
~Jjillions of d r-amas behind tene,~ent ~lindovlS,
lliillLms of Bi~hs, (;ries end scrcer.s
pierce tbe nidni[;ht mask.

A lone ~;irl stands ent.rcnced in a dr eazij
of hazy, h:ergin.:; br-own at.one s a:1(L .::;rotesque
Lanpp o st a trap her in, lilazes of hidden n ee d s ,

Sanct,1.,1lJ, aanct.o ruta a hunky stands rizid, dirt. and
defea.ted in t.he middle of sh r l 11in,::,; ChS.08, shinin,:;,
st,o.rin~; )hos1Jhol"eScent 8i2,11S blinking in hypnotic trc.nces.
ThroUSl: dark gla!:Jses he is blinded 'uy chr-ome fenders and
Luxury ,
He stares indii"::'erent and s eezus gone, and lost but to Goci.

Friel1dlesu, hOL~(;less, desolate a:1C1fo1'lor":.1 they turn to the
pro,_,i S0 of tile ci t.v : out
Je'lrie p" ronase of hope" I tilrotJ.:::,h steel and o;laGs shines
on ~he pulsing streets.

In a dIi.1'1ml.L..y.'.n-elin,tazyca,fes~,n"o•Dlo~e(y?t,t;,,w:orUi-Jtileesro. of a basement. the jazzican waiL:;

his. troubl~s to ~OlJ.0tijing.

In ·.:.be o:.:I'lces 8.~·;G.0:1 the do cks t.h e pu I se goes on

Anel/frou an old oJ~:,acli:::;h clmrch, bells are heard in contraJt to

"h" d' ee.'~1--, ]'~:c'"'C'''' ....!..eJe' .:LC ,norn of' ti,e 81, 1•:1.9 cryl.•:1.;_"OUJe. £L f'are'tre 11 •

v L-

The city goes on,

and ti1e li:;hts kec:~; i.,lL11dng uncertainly ••••

\tritten in a Traihlays Bus nearing NeVI ,.:~d;:, ei1r01.,:te from Baltimore
to He,,!York, this poe!,. Ho.~" uailed to (;ontn;: t by hIO former students,

Jal".w;,; Rhine s:..:H,,hand

Ed"lard Boco bar