A City Night-View

out the window a choking night-wind blows through the city.   
rancid and steamy.   
it wraps itself up my building and into my apartment,  
running over the floor,  
and bringing with it the smell of rot and piss-soaked concrete.  
i push the ragged curtains back and gag.
a distant siren wails.

dots of light 
everywhere
and a million people stacked in boxes.
with pipes running like veins
to carry away their filth
to some unspeakable place.

and dreams.
i can never forget the dreams.
of better times
more space
and clean air.
fueled by a machine of unfathomable import.
wiring me together with them all
into a single consciousness:
the camera swivels here and we all laugh,
it swivels there and we all cry.
always, the camera’s titillations run over me. 
my mind twitches to keep up.
and what of the awareness of this mass-consciousness?
suppressed in drink, dope,  and false faith.

two neighbors i do not know 
erupt in passionate-rhythmic moans just behind the wall.
i lay down in my bed and settle in to its years-old imprint of me 
and wait for exhausted sleep
as i fight back the madness of Truth for yet another night.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2014



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Date: 1/30/2025 8:49:00 PM
Enjoyed the read, Brilliantly written, great imagery.
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Date: 1/6/2025 7:43:00 AM
Your tone reminds me of the subtle silences in film noir movies. Thanks for sharing.
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Date: 9/5/2014 7:33:00 PM
When I was moving around free lancing in the city.. I saw much stuff, but your depth of your imagery is incredible. Makes me go, "eww, gross..", and nice to see you still writing here. I write monthly for a mag (small one) and for Yahoo besides the childrens book and was wondering if you would be interested in giving a commentary on my prose here the Daylight (trying to get a column at yahoo.. thanks in advance for your considering it. :) take care of yourself. Your friend in poetry, Cindy
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Date: 5/6/2014 9:26:00 AM
Hello Sam.... all i can say is WOW OH WOW.. the imagery in this poem I can feel and smell every word every feeling ... you are a true artist my friend.. love love love this poetry... Your work is exceptional ... Brooke
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Date: 5/5/2014 9:18:00 PM
A deep and real to life write, this work is wonderful every line is so brilliantly vivid I could picture everything as if i were their with you seeing and smelling all around us I've never been to a big city being a small town girl myself so not i know what it would be like, i'm glad i'm here, but i did enjoy your wonderful imagery of a different sort of life in your big city vision. cheri also thanks for your great comments cheri
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Sam Toil
Date: 5/6/2014 6:08:00 AM
Cheri, it rewards me greatly that you could see and smell the city. Thanks for stopping by with your lovely comment. Hugs;) Sam
Date: 5/5/2014 3:13:00 PM
a vivid portrayal of city life Sam. great pen hugs
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Date: 5/5/2014 1:04:00 PM
Very descriptive and expressive work that you have penned in this one that I am sure speaks of someone's truth..Thanks for sharing this enlighting work with us..Your visits are uplifting..Sara
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Date: 5/5/2014 6:56:00 AM
Wow... did you ever capture hopelessness. Very good writing, Sam.
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Sam Toil
Date: 5/5/2014 9:42:00 AM
Thank so stopping by, Faye. And for your lovely comment. Hugs;) Sam
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