Sunday, September 23, 2012

The purpose of crossing roads

***

Crossing Roads

Men, women, school children stand on the curb, occupied, connected universally in 2G/3G/4G networks.

eyes side-glancing                                  On
                                                             the red
                                                                 /\
                                                              m   an

        
         contradicting a world in constant motion
         that cannot afford to stop&wait, and give
way.


How many minutes of our lives are spent waiting for the go-sign
that finally lets us GO under the begrudging stares of drivers
who failed to make it and who must now STOP for us.
                             Practice that smug, practice hiding delight.

Or better
         just ignore them all and keep
         your eyes on your glass.



A wh

                        Wa

                                             Wild BOAR

has taken to following
traffic rules

briskly makes a bee-line
                           for the park, diagonal
                                                          across
                                                                 the yellow-box junction

                                          taking a shortcut
                             like humans
with no time to waste


                                   to reach the grove
                                   of jambu trees,
                                   to dine on sweet fruit
                                   ripe and fallen.

***


Posted for dVerse Poetics. Karin Gustafson (ManicDDaily) is hosting. The theme today is the unexpected.

23 comments:

Brian Miller said...

wild boars in the city...well now...that could get rather interesting...its funny how connected yet at the same time disconnected we have become...thinking off all those on the street corner on their phones and such...love the creative word play throughout as well...

Anonymous said...

Aha! I'm so glad that someone played with placement and form and style - this was terrific - I can feel a big animal shouldering its way across a street. k.

Claudia said...

haha..i think we need more wild boars in the city centers to make traffic a bit more interesting...just as long as they don't have 3G connections...smiles...i like

Ravenblack said...

Brian, Karin, Claudia, thanks for your comments. :)

Sabio Lantz said...

Good pig.
Obeying rules like everyone should!
Inoshishi, they are called in Japan -- many happy memory of the disobedient, lusty creatures.

John (@bookdreamer) said...

Now that would be unexpected!

Daydreamertoo said...

We do stand and wait for the green ma like good little automatons, don't we and, the drivers do all sit there fuming because they had to stop. It's interesting that a wild boar found its way into town but, as with bears, moose, wolves and other creatures, we have removed so much of their own habitat and their hunting grounds are shrinking, we aren't leaving them much else to forage for their food.
Loved the imagery of it though :)

Marbles in My Pocket said...

I love it! The concept of turning boars--and other animals--lose in the city to slow traffic and cause people to pay attention! And,as for all the minutes we waste waiting for the go sign; I tend to think we are all rushing nowhere. We seldom enjoy the moment were in and what's in it,because we're in a hurry to get to the next moment and the next thing. Lookit me ramble! Sorry!

Scarlet said...

Nice placement and form of the poem ~ I didn't expect it to be wild boars ~ Ha..have to be careful in crossing the street ~

Ravenblack said...

Sabio, John, Charles, Daydreamer, Heaven, thanks for your comments.

Charles: :) It would be absolutely outrageous to the general public! But they are doing it themselves.

Daydreamer: We are getting into their space, from their point of view I'm sure.

The wild boars are from the nature reserve. Small island with small patches of reserve, and the native wild boars seem to be doing so well they have increased in numbers. Usually shy. I haven't seen any but one of my friends told me she saw one cross the road, happily going on its way... :)

Unknown said...

You always paint such real and revealing pictures with your words, the structure adding to the delight. I had to smile at the boar, may they continue to overflow the reserves.

Anonymous said...

a visual poem if i ever saw one - i saw it all, & marveled at the wild boar right there in the city... the formatting adds so much, well done

Ravenblack said...

Thanks for your feedback, Anna and Turtlememoir. :)

Unknown said...

Cool reflections and observations here. Love the wordplay and bit of linguistics used here. The diagram was really neat to see in here. Thanks

Ravenblack said...

Thanks Fred.
Glad to see you too. :)

dsnake1 said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
dsnake1 said...

haha, a street-smart hog! their population must have increased significantly, to have wandered into the streets.

love the form of your poem, looks disjointed, yet finally coming together in the end, as if how a mobile phone call is made

Ravenblack said...

@dsnake: some people say there a bit of an overpopulation. The boars have been seen crossing the road between Lower Pierce and Bishan Park. :D

Bodhirose said...

I've never come across a wild boar but we do have them here. I hope they don't start taking to the city streets..I'd hate to meet up with one! Loved your write...totally unexpected. :)

Ravenblack said...

Thanks Gayle!

Daydreamertoo said...

Thanks for the visit, very much appreciated. :)

Raven said...

Love the photo/sign of the boar. And we with our 2G/3G/4G ... we are such bores aren't we. I enjoyed this Ravenblack.

Ravenblack said...

Ha, I think it dulls us. Thanks Raven.