Brighton Streets

Do I dare look at you when I walk these streets?
Chase your shadow as it crawls under my feet?
For I have walked my way through 
These pleasant, summer nights
Trailing any trace of you in amber
Street lights.
Hearing the laughter of men and women
Drunken behind bars, their obliviousness
Billowing with the smoke of cigars
And once again I begin to wonder
In these thoughts that shatter, asunder
Of how unvoiced these nights have become.

The scent of scones melting in tea
The sugar, the beach, the creamed coffee
How foolish do I ought to be?
How much emotion becomes too much for me?
And the sun that strokes the clouds at sea
And hides its rays amongst them-
I watch… as all this beauty encircles me.

My eyes see not the glamorous dream
That has been haunting the lives of many it seems
The loveliness of love and its glimmering gleam
The word that is only word
That dream that is only dream.

For I have seen it on all these smiley faces, 
Hurried looks, and warm embraces
Can’t you see?
How we all have been entangled in one giant
Web of emotion?

Is there ever a place between Wordsworth’s
Daffodils and Poe’s Raven?
I walk these streets listening to a busker
Play his harmonica-
As I flip a coin into his flipped hat,
I wonder
How different we are, him and me
              Or are we?

Restricted we are to language and time,
Enslaved in memory, engaged in rhyme
How much easier it is to think of you and me
Rather than the misleading amounts of
Separating land and sea –illusory-
I observe and am observed as I walk these 
Streets, and I feel I know nothing of
Neither you nor me.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2010



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Date: 7/12/2011 1:12:00 PM
Life captured so splendidly Farah. Whether walking the pavement, or sitting watching life go by. Fine write if I may say so :)
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Date: 10/17/2010 4:41:00 PM
Farah, this is beautifully written. Glad to have read your words.
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Date: 8/27/2010 2:01:00 PM
Powerful poem! Were you talking about Brighton in Brooklyn? I spent many happy hours there when I was younger. The place has certainly changed - but I still go there from time to time. Peace and Blessings Matthew Anish
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Date: 8/27/2010 12:24:00 PM
Simply amazing...For few seconds, I walked those streets.. your words and images made the journey possible. Always a pleasure.. Love, Dima
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Date: 8/22/2010 2:27:00 PM
For this has stolen my breath my friend.I can not stop the tears that are falling from my eyes.This so beautifully written with such eloquence.When i read this my imagination drifted with you and i saw through your eyes.Excellent poem.Love,Jamecia
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Date: 8/20/2010 12:08:00 AM
My dearest friend, without a doubt in the world, I am so proud of you. Description of this poem amuses my imagination and arouses my visionary to actually see what you've seen. I miss you! Take care of yourself. Love, Sammiboy.
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Date: 8/13/2010 12:10:00 PM
great description!
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Date: 7/30/2010 1:29:00 PM
Good use of imagery to share your thoughts. Powerful poem. Thank you for sharing it with us and for your kind comment. Karen
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Date: 7/30/2010 11:48:00 AM
such astute observations,which can only,eventually enrich your soul and lift your spirit onwards...and also done in such a fine fashion :) ....you've grown alot in the past few years,as your words from inner contemplation are expressed in such a meaningful way....isn't that the true purpose of our being?...and yet,so many are caught in the trivial pursuits and miss all the surrounding beauty,which becomes our storehouse of inner wealth.....very nice ....peace to you my friend , jay
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Date: 7/30/2010 10:43:00 AM
INTERESTING, FARAH. ENJOYED YOUR POEM. SKAT
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Date: 7/30/2010 12:09:00 AM
A nice narrative well expressed,farah
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