Growing strangers

The dusk burned evenly to a warm brown toast
street by street lamps gave hints of here and there
grew carbon copies that slid instinctively along  pavements
only the etched, shady ladies stood back to scoop
strangers unfamiliar with the sex of theft 

The stray dogs sauntered; always a stone's throw from scraps
street dwellers taking coin and curses in equal measure
grew to love midnight instrumentals fired by alcohol
only one string of a busking line left in their morning cups
strangers make the strangest friends 

'The end is nigh' billboard man slept in his walkabout warning
street comedians who'd tailed off his message with a titillating t
grew sombre as the message dawned on their desecration
only a God can scatter the wind and weep up a tempest to see
strangers growing on stony soil and every street

Taking inspiration from Eric Baus’s ‘Burning Zither’ and the community of fellow poets in the Poetry Pantry

28 thoughts on “Growing strangers

  1. I love writing about cities myself, they too are like forests where strange creatures roam the night and safety is found in neither bright lights nor shadows.

    1. an inviting smell to open with – glad you stopped in Sanaa

  2. luv the hurrah ending
    “only a God can scatter the wind and weep up a tempest to see
    strangers growing on stony soil and every street”

    much love…

  3. I love the dusk burning into warm brown toast. Perfection! I enjoyed the scene you painted so clearly, Laura………smiled at the wit who added a “t” onto “nigh”. LOL.

  4. Yes, there is poetry in the street, in the rare bits of nature, the trash in the gutter…the evening warming to toast – I love that line.

  5. This is reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen’s song, The Streets of Philadelphia. I don’t know, it just felt like I walking through the streets, taking in all of its features and traits. Wonderful write!

    1. Don’t know that song but I like the association – many thanks

    1. thank you Marja – my view of the city opens on an unepectedly (for me) warm note!

    1. the city can appear bleak but there is toast and comedy too 😉

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