Ilene Bauer Poet Rhyme

Fire Escapes

They hang from older buildings
To provide a way to flee
From a fire or another type
Of grim catastrophe.

“West Side Story’s” hero, Tony,
(Just like Romeo) did vouch
To Maria all his love
While on one’s surface she did crouch.

Countless films and TV dramas
Often use one as a base
For a criminal to exit
While the cops are giving chase.

In real life, I’ve never seen one
Used to hasten a descent.
Modern buildings now use stairways
Made of fire-proof cement.

Though necessity requires 
Things to change, it seems a pity
That these structures soon will vanish,
Once a staple of the city.

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Lim'Rik Flats October 11, 2016 at 9:53 PM Looking back through your posts in search of NYC writes I may have overlooked before. We stayed on the boarder between Little Italy and Chinatown (I forget the street name) and saw lots of fire escapes on the old buildings. Walked as far north as the Empire State Bldg and south to Battery park. Loved it! (wanna return some day)

Connie Marcum Wong August 18, 2016 at 7:44 PM It is a sleepy rainy day here and I am enjoying reading your poetry Ilene. Maybe in two more generations we won't recognize much of anything. ; )

Robert Ludden August 18, 2016 at 2:32 PM Our contact has been absent, Ilene--for too long. Enjoyed your thoughts on a disappearing reality. Too many already gone. :-)

Tim Smith August 18, 2016 at 2:21 PM The only time I've seen them used is by construction workers on some of the old buildings here.

Jan Allison August 18, 2016 at 2:13 PM You brought the scene to life Ilene - to be honest it's never something I've ever looked at on the Island as you tend to see the front of houses and not the back - I must make a note to be more observant!:-) hugs Jan xx