Licking at crumbs

You know them well, those

tamed and well trained city pups.

The dunners and yappers

replete in pinstripe and penury;

the high polish of their John Lobbs,

scattering the pigeons

pecking at scraps.

It's like a conveyor belt,

stiff armed, shoulder bowed,

heads like nodding dogs,

coming and going in servitude,

as from the tunnel a dragon roars,

beckoning with it's open jaws.

Often, as is the city's wont, it rains, 

and the black, bobbing cloud that snaps 

to attention seems impenetrable 

when viewed from the high tables

on the thirtieth floor; though on 

careful inspection, there are gaps,

a scattering of crumbs.

Sometimes, the sun shines through;

when it does, there are those who 

glean an understanding of how a man

can enjoy the soil trapped beneath 

cracked and weathered fingernails;

how he can trace each precious little
seed to its final windblown rest. 

Mostly though, 'it's just the way it is,' 

they say, not really understanding 

the synergy between balance 

sheet and an affair of the heart. 

The thrill of each new day becoming 

lost to the limits of stagnated imagination,

in the same way as limitless possibilities

become caught in the intractable web of 

unexplored destiny.

And thus, pleasantly and presentably 

seated, almost nobody looks around.

Instead, dunning and yapping in concert,

they lap at crumbs of comfort that

fall from those higher tables; 

Time caught, as child and avarice collide 

across horizons infinitely wide;

whilst back and forth the profits stream, 

just out of reach, as in a dream.

Reviews

[CD Campbell]

Very angry. I like it. Can you still read this to yourself and remember what you were feeling when you wrote it some time ago? Can you still conjure the anger? You can still impress with your vocabulary and passion. Glad to see you haven't quit. CD

[KWP]

wow - yeah - lapping at crumbs - there are many who live like this - what a shame they have not yet awakened to all the possibilities - I love the view from my own perch - looking hard I note the changes - its a good thing :)

great word - thought provoking nice one

[Tom]

The unending conveyor belt of corporate minions and mainstream, mundane muppets, continue to fill big cities as the wheels of industry ever trundle onwards, so increasing the wealth of the already wealthy!

So happy to have left the rat race, nice one Beccy!

[Great Aunt Astri]

A well written 'philosophical' poem. I like the metaphor of 'crumbs'. I alos like the references to 'nodding dogs', and ''the soil trapped beneath weathered fingernails.' I enjoyed reading this poem.

[Carol Cashes]

The "teeming masses" have never been so poetically and lyrically defined. Thank you for this good and, (for me, a neophyte to poetry) educational read.

[Ken Simm.]

Jam full of detailed and pertinant observations. The lives we are living, the purile wishes we have. I love the irony here in this complex but equally erudite and lovely piece about what we could be and what we are.

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed your words and thoughts dear friend.
"Mostly though, 'it's just the way it is,'
they say, not really understanding
the synergy between balance
sheet and an affair of the heart.
The thrill of each new day becoming
lost to the limits of stagnated imagination,
in the same way as limitless possibilities
become caught in the intractable web of
unexplored destiny.
Mostly though, 'it's just the way it is,' they say, not really understanding the synergy between balance sheet and an affair of the heart. The thrill of each new day becoming lost to the limits of stagnated imagination, in the same way as limitless possibilities become caught in the intractable web of unexplored destiny."
The above stood out tome. People been tamed-down. Fear the unknown. If we don't tempt life and be fearless. What do we become? I enjoyed this one. Made me think this early morning.
Coyote

[andrew mitchell]

a lovely transition of contrasting colours on working life. well written, love the imagery.

[R J Askew]

Loved it esp the last four lines. What a dance we lead. And in truth it is not much better on the outside. The way the country now is gives cause for despair. The tillers do not get dirt under their nails. Their tractors are air conditioned and work on GPS. There are zero weeds in their fields, zero insects, zero birds and zero hares. But a lot of profit. We cannot carry on like this for too much longer and if we do the crack when it comes will be all the worse.

[Tony Jordan]

I have seen the builders and the road-repair guys look longingly at the suits in Winter daydreaming of hot radiators and coffee-machines and I have seen the stuffed shirts scoffing a wrap as they look upon the outdoors workers in Summer with envy.
Its like perch and bream hating while the Pike grows fat.
Very evocative imagery Beccy. Good write. :)