The endless rain of cars upon the streets lends a droning noise to the excited bustle of crowds that pace the streets in furious waves of cell phones and music players. Conversations you did not need to hear and lyrics you shouldn’t even be able to hear.
Up and down and across the buses loop with black coughs. At even intervals, as trains arrive with squeals as painful as aching joints, and the ground rumbles in a mockery of the earthquake that has been on its way for the last fifty years.
Around, buildings tower with promising winks and glassy eyes. Mirrors of desire. Coffee warms the hands of most who browse the streets.
Trees grow within their cages, trimmed and perfected. Blossoming in spring and illuminated in winter. They line the streets like ornamental filters. People flick their cigarette butts in appreciation.
An overpriced food truck. The same free newspaper you avoided two blocks back. No, you don’t have any spare change. You jaywalk a one way street. A car stops for you.
Every once in a while the sun deigns the city worthy of an appearance. But most days the skies mimic the cold cement, and cry for good measure. Ever followers, clothing of black and grey greet the eye like the dense fog that has been around all week.
Hard paths line the water, just beyond the shore. Bike bells and pounding steps followed by the scent of sweat. The occasional seal greets from afar, soon chased away by a ship’s horn. Gritty sand is cool in the shadow of the logs that line the beaches. Hills of grass and a spattering of trees give a semblance of privacy.
Every few months, fireworks cheer, costumes parade the streets. And sometimes birthday suits on two wheels flash past amongst cheering laughs.
Languages hum to each other. Every corner, a new one. Pointing fingers, flashing cameras, and large buses driving just a bit too slowly through the winding, illogical streets.
Yellow, red, black, signs lit, meters already running, slowing past bus stops and huffing when no one moves, speeding off for better luck elsewhere. Of course when you call, there are none available.
Because when night falls, the buses retreat and the alcohol pours and the police are unyielding with their sirens and dooming slips of paper. Stumbling from the bars and clubs, money scattered throughout the night, the cabs are there to collect the rest.
The scent of cuisines as you walk towards the water. Never the same one twice. Except for sushi.
Clothing sales as you move towards the pounding heart of traffic lights and beeping cars. Malls of stale air and clashing stores. Further away, niche boutiques and trendy wear eat away at your bank statement.
You avoid the east. The used needles that sleep beside someone who is not all there at the moment. The transactions that take mere seconds, switching hands as fast as they greet each other. And after dark, the knives that flash.
The buildings sigh downwards as you move north. Trees overtake the ground. Houses coexist among them, each with pet plants growing, well manicured and obedient. Here you hear the children playing, the dogs barking. Occasionally the complaint of a hungry cat.
Vehicles grunt their way up the steep roads. Colourful shoes flash as joggers and cyclists challenge the slopes. Up and up, until the forests swell, ripe with bird calls, dainty hooves, and snuffling snouts.
And the mountains overlook with the fondness as the city spreads like competing children. At the buildings that covet the watery view and the bright colours of the sun’s extremes.
As light fades, the clouds, in a rare moment of kindness, may choose to reveal the sky’s solemn sentries that dot the darkness in a slow, rotating guard. The city lights glimmer like a dying fire’s embers. It’s warm, and if you could, you would reach out and touch it.
—-
A fun Friday challenge by OM to describe any city in less than 1 000 words. I decided to describe my city, Vancouver. Has anyone ever visited before? Can you relate?
Reblogged this on HarsH ReaLiTy and commented:
Very nice read. Thanks for taking part! -OM
Note: Comments disabled here. Please comment on their post.
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I can relate to a certain extent, as I’ve been in larger metropolitan areas before, however there are certain things I’d wouldn’t be able to take to that next level of understanding.
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I definitely included some very niche details in this. But there are also some things that are the same in almost all big cities (at least for all the cities I have visited).
Thanks for the read and comment!
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Definitely can relate, very well written, great imagery, super post!
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Thank you so much!
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Smokers littering to show their appreciation of surrounding nature was very effective! Deign is a new word to me so thanks for that 🙂
Really enjoyed the visuals but did you mean “slowing past bus stops” or “slowing passed bus stops”?
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Always sad to see how many cigarette butts there are scattered around the tree roots. Such a shame.
In this case I’m using ‘slowing’ as the verb, and thus ‘past’ as the adverb =]. Perhaps the wording is a little unconventional, though. Is it too unclear?
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No just curious your intent because it is open to interpretation.
Thank you for deigning me worthy of a reply 🙂
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Cheers then. Haha I am grateful for every comment!
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Cellphone conversations that I’m forced to listen to are one of my biggest pet peeves. Sometimes I’ll act like I’m on a call and talk as loud as the offender so they get the point.
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Hehe that’s a good technique. I should try it next time.
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Your name seems sooooo familiar. Did you ever write for Beatbots?
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Nope! My blog is the only place, so far, that I have written!
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Well, I think our paths crossed a few years ago in Baltimore. If not, fine. If so, fine, too. I used to write poorly for Beatbots. The site had an amazing community on its messageboard. Regardless, I enjoy your writing now. Cheers.
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I have never been to Baltimore, unfortunately. But I’m glad you’re enjoying my writing! I hope my future posts do not disappoint!
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Reblogged this on Batok kelapa.
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Loved this. Like walking down two blocks in Manhattan:) I guess this could be sensory overload for some folk but it’s way I live where I live. And interesting enough, this really could describe any modern metropolis today.
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Thanks!
A lot of the sensations are very similar to other big cities I have visited. It’s probably a bit more relaxed here, but in many ways it has that ‘big city’ feel to it when you’re downtown.
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You only have to see my own writing to know how short my attention span is. I seldom make it through anything as long as this post. But I did this time, and enjoyed it thoroughly all the way through. You’ve crafted such great imagery here. I was there in the reading. All senses involved. Wonderful. Standing ovation! Really. ~ Bill 🙂
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Thank you so much! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it. It means a lot to read your comment!
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I’ve been to Vancouver several times. You’ve done a great job of capturing so many of my experiences. Very well done!
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Thank you! I hope you enjoyed your visits here :D.
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For a few moments I thought you were describing San Francisco, a glittering yet far from perfect jewel by the bay minutes from my home.
Russ
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From what I’ve heard, Vancouver and San Fran are pretty similar! I’ve only visited once, and that was a while ago, so I can’t remember exactly.
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You make me want to go to Vancouver now. I’ll see if I can take 2 weeks off soon. 😉
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It’s a very beautiful city for sure.
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Been two days without any reply. Seems difficult to book a resort at downtown Vancouver. Don’t worry. I won’t bug you or your friends. 😀
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Well, the resort I am trying to book at Vancouver won’t be available until 2015. They offered me a 2-bedroom unit for 2 weeks in November, but I was planning to go alone. So, it was declined, unfortunately. Anyway, the impulse to go is gone by now. I am booking a vacation elsewhere. Sorry about that. Else, I could post a poem about Vancouver this year.
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You know those dawn-to-late-night time lapse films they sometimes take of cities? That’s the impression this piece left with me. All the aspects of the city flowing in on my awareness, on and on and away. Very dynamic.
Now I wish I’d known about this challenge in time and could have tackled it, too.
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I definitely had a kind of moving imagery in my mind as I was writing. Thanks for the feedback!
I’m sure there will be some awesome challenges coming up =].
Cheers!
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Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a like. So, I came here and was delighted.
As I read this post, I kept thinking “Vancouver… this has to be Vancouver, as I know it and have known it to have changed to now.” So, it was not at all a surprise that you communicated Vancouver, as you explain at the very end. You have articulated your sense of place beautifully. Bravo! G
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Thank you! I’m glad it was clear :D. Vancouver certainly does have its little quirks that make it unmistakeable!
Thank you for visiting and commenting! Cheers!
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This reads like poetry to me. Beautiful description of your city.
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Thank you!
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Beautifully intense visuals, a treat to read 🙂
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Thank you!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
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Imagery is everything to me, and you’ve just won me over with some lush images here. Just a beautifully written piece. Exquisite and downright inspiring.
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Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed it :D.
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Very visual. Well done!
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Thank you!
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Hi Christine, this is quite poetic. It flows beautifully. Not one word out of place and so rich in description. I particularly like the cement and sky parallel. So much better than saying grey and when it cries… Whoooo!
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Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! 😀 😀
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I really enjoyed reading that Christine. Almost makes me miss the city…
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I’m glad you did! There’s something special about how alive cities are.
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Loved the flow of this piece. Only been to Vancouver for a short visit but you seem to have captured the pace beautifully
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Thank you! 😀
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Pingback: “My City” – Christine Fichtner | Richibi's Weblog
on my own blog, Christine, I’ve given a page over to your poem, an utter gem, and suggested your “My City” should be the official poem of Vancouver
bravo. and all the best
Richard
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Thank you so much! I’m honoured by your words. I’m so glad you liked it. I hope you continue to enjoy my writing!
Cheers!
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