The challenge tonight put forward by Kim at dVerse poetics is “to write a poem about a city at night, using the photograph as a starting point. You can write about your own city, one you have visited or lived in previously, a city you would love to go to or just write about what you see in the picture. I don’t mind if it’s an ancient city or one from fiction. But it must be at night.”
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Light falls on the cobbled streets of a city after dark
an old city with history
not all of it pleasant
a place whose lanes are etched memories
in your ears and in your eyes
and tonight I see it through a lens
still and silent
yet with a twinkle in it’s night lit eye
i seek to frame it momentarily
on a roll of film
and yet perhaps disguise it too
could this be any old city?
my memory takes me back
to a day in my life
*** *** ***
I do like cobbled streets, Paul, and the way they reflect light, especially in the rain. I’m trying to work out which city it is – old… with history… not all of it pleasant… with lanes… I’ve looked at the picture, the style of bench and street lights and the background, for clues. And t hen there’s the ‘twinkle in it’s night lit eye’.
The only places I know with cobbled streets and ‘Lanes’ are Brighton (but it’s not a city) and Norwich, but I don’t recognise either of them in the photograph. Unless it’s up in Scotland… could it be Glasgow? I need more clues, I think!
Hi Kim…not Scotland…the lane is a big clue 😉
An old city with history, I like this very much Paul ~ In Canada, my favorite cities steeped with history are Montreal and Old Quebec. The narrow and cobbled lanes just takes you back to the olden times ~
Thanks for joining us Paul ~
You’re welcome Grace. Glad you liked it. Any ideas on where it might be?
Very nice. Cobbled stone lanes always make me think to earlier times.
This City has a very famous lane.
Cities hold us in their grip, what might have been.
I have a great affinity to Sheffield despite never living there – my son at Uni (my only experience) – and somehow it holds memories, memories that in reality don’t exist.
Strange but true.
Kind regards
Anna :o]
Thanks Anna. I agree that they can have a hold even if we have not been there. This is one of those cities for sure. 😉
I really like the contrasts here… the cobbled streets could have carried soldier’s feet or being washed with blood… but still there is a personal level as well… many layers in this one.
Thanks my friend. Much of a story to tell and I will…soon.
I admire what you scribbled here and the intriguing photo of bench…curious about dark mystery of past memory.
Thank You Lynn. I will reveal which City and write a little about it’s story…soon 😉
a day in the nightlife – you have an eye for visuals and an ear for the lyrical
Thank You. I wonder if you are hinting at knowing the City here?
Never been north of the border Paul but yours is an image of the eternal city
Thank You Laura
Well.. my friEnd..
considering i just
used A day in the
life for a muse of
just another free verse
line in a day of me.
i’ll go with
Abbey
Road/
Lane
and London
as my guess on
wHere this bench
and cobbled sidewalk
of historial significance
winds on as street liGhts
shimmer stones of memories more…
if not..
just
another muse..
seriouSly.. iF all
news becomes muse..
it’s hard to be disappointed
by night
lights
or
dArk liGhts new..;)
Liverpool 😉
sMiLes..:)
Haven’t been in Liverpool I can see though this city in your poem. I love cobbled streets, except in Atlanta, they don’t exist. And cobbled streets in the rain is absolutely wonderful. The light bouncing from stone to wall back to stone. A lovely and mysterious poem, Paul
vivid image….interesting!
Thanks.
Cobble stones are often used in gentrification projects to create a sense of the past. They are usually torn up after a couple of years because they are so maintenance heavy. Never been to Liverpool, closest was the Birmingham Airport.
The last line of your poem in a ‘clue’ said the poet. 🙂
There are parts of Northern England where the original cobbles survive still. Big clue on the last line for sure but notbas big as the lane one.