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city poems, dVerse poetics, dVerse Poets Pub Poetics, dversepoets, poetics, poetry, poetry prompt
My brothers and I grew up in a small French town in Northern France – a tiny place by American or Chinese standards. But, once in a while, our parents would take us to Paris and we would go to the Eiffel Tower, visit a museum or an exhibition. When English pen friends would visit we would take them there too. It was close enough for a day trip but far and exotic enough to have the feel of an adventure.
Paris meant monuments, historical buildings, the Seine and the bateaux mouches, busy Parisians, traffic and noises, lots of them.
A few years later, spending three days in London was a thrill. This time it was the subway, the black cabs, the lights of Piccadilly Circus, the great parks, and once again, the historical buildings that mesmerized me.
London has now added fascinating skyscrapers to its beautiful skyline. And, of course, Chicago, London and New York City are world-famous for their particularly compelling skylines.
Poets and writers have found inspiration in cities for centuries. In The Ruin, an anonymous 8th century elegy, the poet evokes the former glory of a ruined city.
Wondrous is this wall-stone, broken by fate,
the city burst apart, the giant-work crumbled.
Roofs are ruined, towers ruined,
rafters ripped away, hoarfrost on lime,
gaps in the storm-shelter, sheared and cut away
under-eaten by age. (read more)
Some poets, like Robert Browning in Up at a Villa – Down in the City, praise the pleasures of urban living.
Had I but plenty of money, money enough and to spare,
The house for me, no doubt, were a house in the city-square;
Ah, such a life, such a life, as one leads at the window there! (read more)
Similarly Whitman finds inspiration in New York City and in Leaves of Grass he writes poems that celebrate the urban bustle he loves.
On the other hand, William Blake and numerous poets in his wake write about the disturbing aspects of city life after the Industrial Revolution.
London
I wandered through each chartered street,
Near where the chartered Thames does flow,
A mark in every face I meet,
Marks of weakness, marks of woe.
In every cry of every man,
In every infant’s cry of fear,
In every voice, in every ban,
The mind-forged manacles I hear:
How the chimney-sweeper’s cry
Every blackening church appalls,
And the hapless soldier’s sigh
Runs in blood down palace-walls.
But most, through midnight streets I hear
How the youthful harlot’s curse
Blasts the new-born infant’s tear,
And blights with plagues the marriage-hearse.
City life is a topic which also appeals to more recent poets. Although he is aware of his city’s vices and brutality, Sandburg ends up writing a vibrant hymn to Chicago.
Bareheaded,
Shoveling,
Wrecking,
Planning,
Building, breaking, rebuilding,
In India, contemporary Nissim Ezekiel tackles the love-hate relationship he has with his birth city in his Bombay Poems, and sees it as the symbol of the growing dehumanization of the City.
Whether we love them or hate them, cities are an integral part of modern life and, as such, they constitute an inevitable subject matter for poetry. Something which is often reflected in the slam poetry of our metropoles worldwide.
Thus this week I invite you to write your own urban poem. Celebrate the historical wealth of the city, its energy, exoticism or diversity. Mourn the loss of social life or connexion with nature. Share your own personal city square. Whatever you write, make it your own.
What to do after you have written:
• Post your poem to your blog
• Add a link to your poem via the ‘Mr Linky’ below
• Read and comment on other people’s work to let them know it’s being read
• Share via your favorite social media platforms
• Above all- have fun!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
Hello Poets.. Gabriella will come in later.. Hope you are looking forward to singing tribute to the city.. A wonderful prompt, and I look forward to your city impressions.
Gabriella said:
Hi Björn and Claudia for having opened the bar for me. I too look forward to reading what dVerse poets will share.
claudia said:
oh i love cities… and each sings its very own and special melody… looking forward to read what everyone’s coming up with…
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
A very good prompt.. and if you take time to listen to the city you can hear it sing for you.
Gabriella said:
I agree, Claudia. Each city has its own feel.
Mary said:
Yes, I think each song has its own melody. We have to listen ever so carefully.
Bryan Ens said:
Great prompt! City poetry can certainly take the poet in numerous different directions!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I like that in a way all cities are very unique, yet in other ways all different.
Gabriella said:
Thank you, Bryan. And with dVerse poets from different continents we should have a great variety.
MarinaSofia said:
Wonderful prompt – I am a city girl at heart, although I’m starting to appreciate the quiet of the countryside in my old age… Bit late for me to be inspired, but will try to come up with something for the prompt tomorrow.
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said:
I’m sure you will dream up wonderful city poetry.
Gabriella said:
I look forward to reading your poem, MarineSofia!
johnallenrichter said:
Quite inspiring – hope tonight brings some free time to meet this prompt….
Gabriella said:
I hope so too, John!
brian miller said:
blowing in after school…
fun prompt gabriella…really got me going again…
smiles.
Gabriella said:
Thank you, Brian! I am glad you enjoyed it.
billgncs said:
back in 1982 when I was on rugby tour to England, we took a quick trip to Paris. It was a great time, and I recall that in the whirlwind of rugby and a weekend in France we were in the Tuleries and then visited the Eiffel tower where we took a nap under a shade tree near an organ grinder with a small monkey. One of the best naps ever…
http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com said:
What a lovely memory. Rugby and Paris: a superb combination!
billgncs said:
The other one was that we picked up a bottle of wine and a baguette at the market and walked back through the streets to our little apt and had bread and wine as we sat on the balcony overlooking the streets of the city.
Gabriella said:
This sounds like the kind of blissful time I like. And with good wine and fresh baguette you cannot wrong. 🙂
billgncs said:
Last memory… coming back I had about 150 Francs left, which was about $50.00 US – but this was very long ago and I was very poor. The conversion rate wasn’t favorable so we went into a little shop with the most adorable French girl ( remember I was in my 20’s 🙂 ) and we gave her all our Francs and had her pick out little bottles of perfume for us. Those gifts with their lovely little bottles were very well appreciated…
Gabriella said:
I am sure they were. 🙂
Linda Kruschke said:
Great prompt! And now that my poetry books is done (and up on Amazon.com) and I’m on break from Bible Study Fellowship I’m hoping to have more time for new poems and reading some other poetry. Of course, it’s almost Christmas so I might be delusional about that. But for today there’s a little time. Peace, Linda
Gabriella said:
Looking forward to your poem, Linda!
http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com said:
I am essentially a country girl, but I have spent two significant periods of my life in cities: born in London, and worked and later lived for several years in Birmingham, a city reviled and lauded in equal measure. I loved it. So for this prompt I resuscitated an earlier poem, which I always intended to come back to and re-write. Somehow that never happened, and I quite like the wordy ramblings.
Gabriella said:
Cities can be heaven or hell, can’t they? I once lived not very far from Birmingham, but in a small village. I never lived in a city in the UK. I will be glad to read your poem, viv.
Glenn Buttkus said:
Wow, Germany, France, England, Sweden all well represented here tonight, an integral ingredient in the spice of imagination that runs rampant through the dVerse pack like a viral poetic. I have never really traveled much, except at the movies, in books, & now through the eyes/minds/souls of our international members; so cool.
Gabriella said:
The variety is indeed part of what makes dVerse so wonderful, isn’t it? I am lucky to have traveled quite a bit but then it is easier to travel from Europe. There are so many countries nearby.
Mary said:
What a wonderful prompt, Gabriella. It is so interesting to read people’s contributions — whether it be about a specific city or CITY in general. I have enjoyed all I have read so far & look forward to reading more.
Kathy Reed said:
Such a versatile prompt..it gave me lots of ideas! I look forward to reading what others wrote later this evening. Thank you Gabriella.
Gabriella said:
You are welcome, Kathy!
lynn__ said:
I grew up in a city and always love going back… to the people, the lights, the bustling activity! So this prompt brought to mind a poem I wrote earlier and wanted to rewrite 🙂
Gabriella said:
Thank you for sharing, Lynn!
claudia said:
good morning… cup of coffee to my right and catching up with the overnites…
Prajakta said:
I will be writing a “state poem” as the place I am writing about is too small! Very close to my heart, and was a great way to take a trip to some of my best moments in life.
Gabriella said:
I am glad if this brought back positive memories.
Prajakta said:
Approximately a 1001 of them! Massive filtering done for the poem. Hope you like it
arathi said:
thank you for this prompt..the city I come from is a historic city and it is full of heritage..I am proud of my city and I thank you for this opportunity to salute my city..
Gabriella said:
You are welcome, Arathi.
Bryan Ens said:
Hope you don’t mind…I couldn’t resist writing a second entry for this prompt.
Gabriella said:
This is awesome, Bryan
seasideauthor said:
A small part of the city in the background, without the 11 million visitors right now. Lovely.
claudia said:
oy… long day at work…. just coming into the door and will return comments….
Victoria C. Slotto said:
Barely sneaking in on time–mine is in defense of my little city. You may guess, I eschew big cities. :0)
purplepeninportland said:
Late on this one, but come on, it’s New York City!
Mine is up at: http://purplepeninportland.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/where-i-come-from/
suesconsideredtrifles said:
My Saturday post was too late for the linky http://suestrifles.wordpress.com/2014/12/13/london-in-rhyme/