as we fall

the city

the acrid smell of
gasoline
touches my nose

and i wince
as i step in something

squishy.

the skyscrapers block out the sun
and i kick
a crumpled
can of coke

into the street

wondering why someone couldn't have walked
10 extra
feet

to the trash can.

a rat runs across my path
and i nearly
scream

i pass a tiny cooped-in
play yard

with a bedraggled
pink
playhouse

and a pile of shattered glass.

i can't help but wonder

who lived here, once

who played in the pink playhouse.

the blue shutters are crooked, and
unthinkingly
i reach to fix them.

i maneuver around
the bags of garbage

and the people rushing by
heads down
earbuds in

i can't help but wonder if they
have ever once
looked at the sky

because they are becoming transparent
fading into the background

just a green screen

for the horror movie of
life.

i
love
the
city.

..............................
dedicated to MrStretch for being my first follower (who I didn't already know)

love you all <3