Under The Lamp Post

This poem came to me at about 2am while lying in bed staring at the street light outside my house in the yard of a newly REALLY renovated home. I kept thinking about standing under it and what a person might be thinking right in that exact spot.

 

 

 

Here I stand,

Below the orange glow of the lamp post

outside that new house they put up

You know, the one we watched

go from a condemned shack

to the nicest house on the street?

 

Here I stand, watching the light fade

until the shadows overtake the luminescent sidewalk

So intriguing tonight,

the shadows cast by this buzzing light.

It seems to take up residence, this transient darkness.

It's calming in it's apparent steadfastness

making even the new look

conquered by the ancient.

 

Here

where the stars are shining

or at least they’re supposed to be

if the city didn’t strangle them

 

Here

where we walked and lived

laughed

breathed

 

 

held hands

 

 

 

Here I stand

all alone

My fear of something

more terrifying than the dark

(and you know how the dark can sneak up and scare me)

having driven me here

away from you

away from the ice pervading our happy home

 

Are you spying through the blinds,

assuring yourself no nightmarish creature preys?

Immune to whether you hurt me or not,

as long as no one else does it.

 

Standing on the corner

Surrounded by this ancient darkness,

Across the street from the "crackhouse"

Beside the shiny new future of the neighborhood

With your cold shoulder and blazing words at my back

I contemplate the question of the hour...

 

It plagues me like the fear of the dark

surrounding my halo of light.

My safety afforded me by staying put

here under this lamp post

with it’s orange buzzing light.

 

which way will I venture tonight?

Reviews

[An owl on the moon]

What a profound, emotive work. Starting as a beautiful reminiscence of soft darkness under streetlights turns to a much deeper commentary on a neighborhood in darkness. Every line was magnificent but this one spoke so much to me "Where the stars are shining or at least they're supposed to be if the city didn't strangle them." Again, the violent darkness even haunts the night sky and the feeling of loneliness comes out after dark to play...

[Loner]

This sounds passionate and filled with strength. It's beautfiul in it's prosical style. It sounds reminiscent and a little sad as well. I wonder what runs through your mind. I think this poem is a beautiful brush stroke.

[Forest Green]

Truly a wonderful effort...reminds me of so many corner lamp posts that have captured my thoughts in the middle of a dark night...including one outside my hotel room in Chicago, shining within a haze of falling snow.

Good topic, nice illustration...wonderful poem.

Daniel

[Siddartha Beth Pierce]

After having moved to the country from the city what struck me most about this poem is this line:

'Here where the stars are shining or at least they're supposed to be if the city didn't strangle them' - Although, much is said in this poem about a relationship as well - strangled by who knows what exactly but may the narrator find comfort. Thank you. Quite a nice piece.

Light,
Siddartha

[C. T. K. L.]

This is intriguing. Nothing like actual light to serve as a metaphor for the light, and contrast the dark. Having stood beneath a lamppost before, I can tell you that it is just as symbolic-feeling as it seems. This makes me think of that scene in the book 'The Outsiders' where Dally gets shot under the lamppost after Johnny dies. It's very sad, but cool. Well done!