morning motion,city traffic, cold in summer, a moment not to be judged by the ordinary outside unfolds, steeled faces fear unseen dangers, yet find safety within it like birds appearing to have no where to go
early stillness city awakening neon’s blink off apartment lights on a few cars and a cat warm street air pigeons pass overhead red brick walls slate steps alley doors aroma of bacon and coffee stagnate puddles grease and diesel fumes sun rising over rivers horizon stepping slowly from earths other side
unashamed smoky alleys, rock walls overlook back porch squatters pigeons wary of a changing breeze and strangers without wings garble a frightened message taking flight barred windows, forgotten garbage, and bells ringing, signal the top of the hour; for some the end, others, late for dinner
the bones of words remain behind like rumpled sheets without memory of sleep as day tosses a mixed salad of walking and arriving the hours melt into the water of day time slows for anxious eyes while rain marks windows and umbrellas below splashing on buses sizzling off neon’s coats of color … More FROM ABOVE
There’s no bottom to the city treeless empty lots broken stone trash and puddles where buildings were planned to reach the moon and stars sidewalk people swim upstream in both directions without order searching for a place sirens help or prevent subways rattle breathing heavy stoic faces anxious hands
The memory place. A filling in of the in-between with disarmingly haunting voices wrapped in frail burlap. A cooperative sadness strives to overtake. Faces like mannequins appear with irregularity, easing the initial pains of those left behind; everyone’s looking for a familiar song. Red brick walls with a faded ad stares from the second floor; … More NEXT STREET OVER
Sealed within the envelope of night is a common indifference. Shadows appear equal. A corner musician pulls at the strangers eyes. Coins in the hat drinks for a night a city bus with sleepers roars by. Skelton road crews work for food. A walk between the avenues, neon signs wave welcome subways rumble below, buses … More MIXED AND EQUAL
The favor of rain washed the city. Wandering masquerades of hats and umbrellas blossom the storm. Vehicle horns curse the air. Sewer covers are the genius of casual art work. Steam pipes eject from below the devils exhaust. Puddles reflect the sky, passing tires shatter the image. Linens smoothly wave themselves dry. A cat warms … More A FULL WASH
Shadowy unruly pendants; the tales of fate misguided, the language of drowning without answers. Like potted houseplants turning into the sun, people wait for that taste of a good watering. Every corner holds the treasure for an attempted escape. A piano without tune falls silent. A ceiling fan spins out of boredom. A floor … More NO HARM IN LEAVING
From the top of the stairs an opening appears, past street lights and buildings without windows. A rippled blanket of dusty air turns up after trucks and buses. Humidity attacks the skin with the local flavor from back alleys and abandoned trash. A screen door slaps shut. A voice rises above the din of traffic … More OUT THERE
Roger Singer 