Long Downtown Poems
Long Downtown Poems. Below are the most popular long Downtown by PoetrySoup Members. You can search for long Downtown poems by poem length and keyword.
*Image of Take In North America by Amtrak.
Training Experience: Novice
All onboard, the Pacific Coast-Liner,
it is seventy-seven, my first leave
of a first year's work. A bit sideliner
on board, the conductor took my bag, "We've
an opened dining car?", ... only diner.
Hilly city skyline glistens, task the
stars a righteous challenge as bay bridges
chime in, and scores mankind not to go, "Huh?"
Though, not bested but balanced by smidges,
from the dining car, swirled eyes go gaga!
Speckled dark over SF Bay, a shaky
train crossing tracks, passing seductive woods
and dotted town lights yond away. Snaky
mountain passes morning eyes, a boyhood's
dream grasped tunnels and frames of white flakey.
Portland, a short stopover, unknowing
passengers, like me, went to the station.
Town postcards I found and left, ongoing
browsing for some soon turned to frustration
as the train went without them ... mind-blowing.
Fronting Portland's downtown district, the view
is great o'er the Columbia River
we crossed to Vancouver. Washington cue
our end's nigh and the train will deliver
me soon to old friends, of a boy they knew.
The quaint King Street station close up ahead
and as I'm all packed and ready in my
private cabin. It stopped, chose I instead
to be last. Friends asked the agent if I
missed it? "He looks Hawaiian?" He pointed.
2021 October 14
*3rd Place*
Railroads, A Historical Glance Back
~~BJ Legros Kelley: Judged 2021 November 16
Being a Philadelphia sports fan
is like being a Hawaiian who likes icicles... what's the point
I barely remember the two years the Flyers won in the seventies
Now the Sixers in 83 that was amazing, but since then...nothing
When I was fifteen I seen the Phillies win it all back in 1980
The next time they won it all I had a son who was fifteen, 28 long years
Oh, and the Eagles, they never won at all, but they're the "gold standard of the league"
In desperation I once rooted for a horse named Smarty Jones to win the Triple Crown
He was from Philly
You guessed it, He lost at the wire as my son and I watched in the rain
on the Parkway right near the Rocky statue
In fact, Rocky is this towns biggest sports hero, shame he's imaginary.
But as of late I have been cheering my mighty Sixer's
Just honoring the guy who made famous the 'who needs practice' quote
They have now lost 21 in a row, a team record
Now our sights are set on the league record at 26 loses in a row
I may take off from work that day
Maybe take a lunch and go downtown and eat with Rocky
Hopefully it isn't raining
Artie Mac was a hero of mine
Singing songs most all of the time
He would never just say Hello
He'd hit you with a greeting from some Broadway show
Man he could sing everything
That voice divine... he was a friend of mine...
Saw him down town sing a cappella
Send In The Clowns in some downtown cellar
The Ayresome Angel from his distant youth
Nailing those notes with a resolute truth
A Holgate man, no fancy Dan
That voice so fine... he was a friend of mine...
One night he's on the stage with J.T.
I looked away but I knew he'd seen me
Get up Lou he shouts, let's do Out Of Time
You and me we do that real fine
Artie and me, rock harmony
Line for line ... he was a friend of mine...
Dying to Live, note after note
I hear this song, lump in my throat
Gone far too young this magical guy
Drink in my hand, tears in my eye
Thanks for them all, duos recalled
Time after time... he was a friend of mine...
Tribute to Artie McDermott who was a great guy, Boro fan and the best singer I ever shared a stage with.
And there has been quite a few.
I’m ready for investing in some ballroom real estate.
The music starts at nine o’clock; we’ll get there half past eight.
Be sure to wear your sexy dress. I’ll wear my sexy pants.
The rooftop lounge is under glass; let’s go downtown and dance.
Listen to the magic of that Spanish guitar.
It can take us far and away
Swinging past the limits of the evening’s expanse,
Gliding through the night like in some gothic romance.
We’ll tango through the crowd like irresponsible gazelles.
Then sip some fine champagne and eat dark chocolate nonpareils.
If I may seduce you with a mischievous glance,
I’d like to take your hand and have us go downtown and dance.
Savor the abrazo as we caminata;
Abrida with your foot touching mine.
Ocho walking backwards when I make my advance.
Gancho as we tangle in a sensuous trance.
Now don’t expect ballet with arabesques and pirouettes.
I never met Gene Kelly; didn’t work with the Rockettes.
But I’ll never let you fall if you piernazo by chance.
So, my pretty senorita, let’s just go downtown and dance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They arrive before dawn~
antlers strapped to stocking caps,
felt noses safety-pinned to fleece.
Downtown Dallas exhales frost
as hooves slap pavement~
a migration of office workers,
lawyers, bankers, teachers,
students, retirees~
all briefly ungulate,
pounding
the urban tundra
while above them,
skyscrapers
turn into frozen pines.
The Finish Line smells of gingerbread
and spilled energy drinks.
No one wins, but
everyone who gallops across
the Finish Line receives a red t-shirt
proclaiming:
I ran with the herd.
MY FIRST CAR
Years ago when I was younger,
So I'd not be so encumbered,
Wil decided that a car,
Would solve our problems near and far.
A run about was what I needed,
So transportation was not impeded,
When he had to go to work,
And I clung to him like a dirty shirt.
"Let me keep the car today,
I'll pick you up without delay.
When day is done and you're ready for home,
I won't leave you waiting there all alone."
But when day was over sure enough,
He'd wait and he'd wait by the curb with his stuff;
So he bought me a car at a used car lot,
Dependable and not costing a lot.
I loved it, adored it, I gave it a name.
So pretty and feminine, I called her Elaine.
Gold was her color, interior brown,
Easy on gas, I drove all over town.
To work and to school and the grocery store,
A gem of a car, could not ask for more.
Then one fine day in downtown traffic,
A man in a Dodge hit my cute little Maverick.
He knocked her right off her two front wheels.
I couldn't believe it, my senses reeled.
She died on the spot, I cried and cried,
"You killed my car!" "It's okay," he sighed.
The police arrived and I told them my story,
How he came out of nowhere, the details were gorey.
"He murdered my car!" I told them again,
"It was never alive." he said with a grin.
"It was a machine so it cannot be dead."
"It won't move again, so it's dead", I said.
All through the years I still feel the same,
About the man who murdered Elaine.
He came out of nowhere in a big Dodge truck,
Knocked her right off her wheels, that big dumb cluck.
So now when buying a car I endeavor,
I say,"Down with Dodge!" and "Ford Forever!"
Judy Ball
For Carol Brown's My First Car Contest
When all the chores were done and the sun had settled in the west,
Folks would round up their kids for the weekly family quest.
Saturday night downtown was looked forward to with anticipation.
It was almost akin to going on the annual family vacation!
Each kid would be given fifty-cents to spend as they chose.
Maybe for popcorn and a movie at one of the picture shows!
Dad would be in bib-overalls and Mom in a pretty calico,
Strolling Main Street greeting neighbors with a hearty, "Hello!"
Dad would saunter to the hardware to view the latest in tools.
Mom would visit the dry goods store to drool over ginghams and tulles.
At the grocery store, Mom shopped for eats amid all the clutter,
Bartering for the weekly fare with her cream, eggs and butter!
Before heading home, to make the night really complete,
They would gather at the ice cream parlor for a tasty treat!
The folks snuggled in the front seat - the kids happily chattered,
Anticipating next Saturday night - to them that was all that mattered!
Then, life moved at a slower pace - such simple times are family lore.
The Five-and-Dime stores with squeaky floors aren't around anymore.
Crowded malls are now the latest and greatest innovations -
Not owned by a congenial neighbor, but by distant corporations!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved
We went downtown for a movie
Near an upscale place for food
Filled with kiosks, booths and dining
For whatever suits your mood.
I tried ice cream made with squid ink –
Smooth but black as darkest night,
Also cold-brew coffee flavor
On a cone, a pure delight.
But attracted by some singing,
We walked by to check it out.
When we saw a huge menorah,
We knew what it was about.
For tonight we light a candle,
After sunset, for the start
Of a holiday called Chanukah,
Which sets the Jews apart.
But New York’s the home to many,
Lots of whom were gathered ‘round
To join in the candle-lighting
And the songs which did resound.
It felt good to be a witness
To a most amazing thing –
Total strangers linked together
And the joy that it can bring.
My cold not quite over –
With sniffles and cough –
I had a commitment
I couldn’t blow off.
The thought of the subway,
Its rush-hour crush,
Was turning my insides,
Congested, to mush.
But then I remembered,
A few blocks away,
Commuter vans idled
Each morning, each day.
And so I inquired –
How much? Was there room?
I paid and was welcomed,
Or so I assume.
In 15 short minutes
I made it downtown,
Preventing my usual
Subway ride frown.
For just 7 bucks
I could sit and relax
With no getting-stuck-underground
Panic attacks.
I don’t commute daily
But next time I must,
I’ll splurge on the van –
Let my wallet adjust!
Downtown Dayton cityscape
can be seen clearly (on a clear day)
from the grassy knoll on top
of the Woodlands cemetery.
Most of the more fancy mausoleums
face any other way though,
as if the successfully dead
had prospered and were now
disinterested in local legends.
The bones of great men and women
are restless here however,
they turn over the decades,
pull time over their skulls
like overly stuffed quilts.
They won't look now
at that once prosperous and inventive city
they are done with fame
but on a clear night
the city lights illumine
their sad spirits
as they dream of the degradation
of their once industrious history,
watch the unfolding decay of their works
one dirty, burned-out city block
at a time.