Silent City - Part 1

Ill-fated crowds neath unchained clouds: the Silent City braved
against a sudden flashing flood, unleashing lashing waves,
which stripped its stony structures, blown with neutron bursts that laved.

Its barren streets, although effete, resound of yesterday
with chit-chat words no longer heard (though having much to say)
since teeming life (at one time, rife), surceased and slipped away.

Within its walls? Whist buildings, tall... Outside the City? Dunes,
which limn its frail forgotten tales, in weird unworldly runes
with symbols strung like halos hung in lifeless, limp festoons.

Above! The dismal ditch of dusk reveals a velvet streak,
through which the winter’s wicked winds will sometimes weave and sneak,
and faraway a cable sways, a bridge clings hushed and bleak.

Thin shadows shift, like silver shafts, throughout the doomed domain
reflecting white, wee wisps of light in ebon beads of bane
which cast a crooked smile across a faceless windowpane.

Wan neon lights glow through the nights, through darkness sleek as slate,
while lanterns (hovered, high above, in silent swinging gait),
whelm ballrooms, bars, bereft bazaars, though no one’s left to fete.

Death's silhouettes show no regrets, 'twixt twilight’s ashen shrouds,
oblivious she always was to cries in dying crowds –
in foggy neap the spirits creep beyond the mushroom clouds.


No ghosts of ones with jagged tongues will sing a silent psalm
nor haunt pale lips with languid quips to pierce the deathly calm,
nor yet redress the emptiness that shifting shades embalm.

Continued in part 2

Copyright © | Year Posted 2012



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Date: 9/2/2013 12:21:00 AM
Geez! Bless your talent oh God!
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Date: 7/12/2013 2:32:00 PM
Master of esoteric rhyme; this seems to have wings that takes me to places I've sometime had to be. It washes over me like the waves that won't leave you alone. Beautiful and moving. Love, Lizzie
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Date: 12/8/2012 6:51:00 AM
Dear Terry, a sepulcher for Christians, Muslims, Jews - What beauty wasted on eternal zealots. Your abandoned church bells ring loud with the warlords' yells and pitiful piety. On to 2. love, Kathy
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Date: 11/27/2012 6:30:00 PM
Interesting write, Terry. Sounds like a sad and forelorn place that still has the faint essence grandeur. Kind of melancholy, sort of makes me sad. Yet still an amazing write! For me an emotional probe.:) Best wishes, Mikki
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Date: 11/27/2012 3:17:00 PM
Exceptional piece, you have woven many intricate images together here.
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Date: 11/27/2012 12:37:00 PM
Ha ha..love it! And the little discription at the bottom.Very nice.. :o)
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Date: 11/27/2012 11:31:00 AM
Elizabeth has said so well in such few words what I feel for this poem of yours. Where I have only comment on the final part of the previous poem I must start commenting on each. Great work!
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Date: 11/27/2012 8:57:00 AM
my goodness, this is very well crafted!! and to think you have two more parts!! I will come back to them when I have a lot of time to really study them out. VERY good work here.
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Date: 11/26/2012 10:45:00 AM
here we go again, on a enchanted journey that you create Terry, see you again in part 2...
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Date: 11/26/2012 4:45:00 AM
See part 3 comments. Just wanted to tell you that you might want to consider posting a multiple part poem in reverse order. That way, the parts will appear in the proper order when viewed. Cheers, Roy
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Date: 11/26/2012 4:21:00 AM
My addiction gets stronger as I eat up these creations. It takes an amazing vocab to weave this kind of magic and I sure enjoy the trip! Love, Elizabeth
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