The Ballad of New New York - A Month of Daily Poems (Day 17)

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(Edited)

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This poem is currently submitted and under consideration for TheTideRises magazine's ‘seasick’ poetry competition.

Desiccated ashen clouds
glower at lonely towers,
stretching up to heaven's halls
like dead and twisted flowers.

In saline shifting tidal fields
a concrete forest grows,
among these swelling mossy walls,
a boat slowly rows.

By chance the sun alights
upon the rower’s face,
pondering these concrete gods
of another time and place.

His memory a tattered line
tracing all he used to know,
when as a child he shambled
cobbled avenues alone.

Now, in this Atlantian metropolis
only fish swim down the streets,
that echoed once with hollers
and a thousand hurried feet.

He casts his line, winds back the reel,
bobbing in the briny deep,
his only task to watch the float
and try not to fall asleep.

The howling wind caresses all
with haunting cries of sorrow,
buildings cast sentinel shadows,
empty, dead and hollow.

Sailing west to emerald coast
the old fisherman returns,
in breaking waves a maiden’s arm
grasps a torch that never burns.

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We of the eternal debate - the great, the good and the ignorant, happily watch the fields burn while fighting over the price of grain. So it shall ever be unless we build new fundamental systems on every level; political, philosophical and economic.

The dance plays out in front of us every day, plain to see in the behaviour of the elites. Elon Musk for example, builds environmentally beneficial technology while holding on to a wealth so vast that as little as 2% of his personal wealth could end world hunger.

“Most persons are so absorbed in the contemplation of the outside world that they are wholly oblivious to what is passing on within themselves.”

Quote: Nikola Tesla

The Bezos, Gates and many other billionaires of this world are against a wealth tax, preferring rather to give smaller amounts to charities or projects of their own design. Nice, controllable, tax deductible, projects and charities that align with their own preferences.

“Anti-social behavior is a trait of intelligence in a world full of conformists.”

Quote: Nikola Tesla

I choose to share these quotes from Nicola Tesla as he is a great example of someone who was a victim of people and systems that monopolise power on a global scale. Also, it appeals to my cynics’ sense of humour that Elon Musk would name his company after a scientist and inventor that strove to create a system that would give the gift freedom to all of the human race, rather than just those who can afford it.

I'm sure Musk believes in his good intentions, but words and intentions can't douse the fire humankind has set in the field of Earth. The systems of control that still operate in this world can blind even the most insightful, seemingly trapping them in a limited state of operation. States that don’t challenge behaviours that burn down the house to spite those who believe the house should be maintained for the benefit of everyone.

But who the fck am I… I'm a nobody.

Here is what an eminent physicist and systems theorist Fritjof Capra says about these issues:

“At the very heart of our global crisis lies the illusion that unlimited growth is possible on a finite planet. In this economic system, the irrational belief in perpetual growth is carried on relentlessly by promoting excessive consumption and a throwaway economy that is energy and resource intensive, generating waste and pollution, and depleting the Earth’s natural resources.”

Quote: Fritjof Capra

I thank my lucky stars that I'll most likely be dead before the shit truly hits the fan, or perhaps, like the character in my poem, I shall fish desolate concrete forests reaching forlornly from the waves.

And on that rather depressing note...

Thanks for reading 😅

The digital art in this post is a collage created using three CC licence photoes, links to credit: 1 2 + 3. If you have enjoyed this poetry post, please check out my homepage @raj808 for similar content.

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13 comments
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As great as always, I loved this paragraph:

Now, in this Atlantian metropolis
only fish swim down the streets,
that echoed once with hollers
and a thousand hurried feet.

Saludos amigo =)

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Aye, it is a sad poem and I was very happy with the imagery while I was writing it.

Thanks for reading Jose. It means a lot that people are reading these poems I write each day 🙂

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Awesome poem thank you for sharing have the best day
@raj808 Came from Listnerds 😎 !ALIVE !CTP

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Thanks @benthomaswwd

Many thanks for support on Listnerds, but also I really appreciate when someone reads my poems and finds them interesting or inspirational.

Thanks again.

!LUV

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You are welcome i am not much good with poetry but i do enjoy reading it
@raj808 have the best week ahead 😎
!ALIVE !CTP !PIZZA

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Your poem describes New York really well. Thanks for sharing.

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Not really, it describes new york in maybe 100-200 years' time if the sea levels rise so that a fisherman might go fishing and experience...

Desiccated ashen clouds
glower at lonely towers,
stretching up to heaven's halls
like dead and twisted flowers.

This poem describes that hypothetical future.
Not sure if you read anything other than the title.
Spammy comments like this are pretty annoying.

Cheers

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