Downtown NYC Not-So-Kyrielle
Downtown NYC Not-So-Kyrielle
Little black boxes line the street.
I don’t quite know how caught rats meet
their doom; just that this life’s sure tough,
though we cry uncle, Lord, enough.
Walk next by 9/11’s hole
now asphalt filled, pressed ash and soul,
where shuffling tourists huddling chuff
(and I cry uncle, Lord, enough.)
Tied to cell, a broker f-words:
“don’t tell clients to buy secureds==
our fee’s cut down with that f- stuff,”
(as I cry uncle, Lord, enough.)
Sidewalks grey; the sky-rofoam white–
day chases cAsh to black-box night==
I seek the lee, but find the luff,
crying uncle, oh Lord, enough.
****************************
Here’s my (draft) version of a Kyrielle, a French form, which I’m trying for Gay Cannon’s prompt on dVerse Poets Pub Form for All. Gay has a great article about them – my understanding is that they started from the idea of Kyrie Eleison in the Catholic mass, though have ventured far afield.
A couple of process notes – yes, there are these weird black rat boxes all around downtown. 9/11 is meant to be pronounced “nine-eleven.” (I’m sure you got that.) (I have nothing against the tourists.) And yes, a broker from a bank was shouting f-words very loudly today by my ATM at the thought of a reduced investment commisions.
Explore posts in the same categories: New York City, poetry, UncategorizedTags: manicddaily, money money money poem, Not-so-Kyrielle, NYC depressed poem, rat traps in downtown NYC poem, sky-rofoam white poem
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December 20, 2012 at 6:55 pm
Ah that’s NYC for you!
Sent from my iPhone
December 20, 2012 at 11:37 pm
Yes! Hi Lynn! k.
December 20, 2012 at 7:23 pm
I love how you can take a form like this – so medieval – and make such a current, modern, affecting poem. You are truly gifted, K. I liked this enormously — showing me the less-glamorous side of Manhattan!
December 20, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Thanks so much, Gay. k.
December 20, 2012 at 11:38 pm
Thanks so much, Gay. You are very kind. It is a wonderful form that I’ve not tried before – – thanks so much for all the wonderful forms you have introduced us too at dVerse and in your general writing. k.
December 20, 2012 at 7:45 pm
I got no sympathy for rats, but the last quatrain is fantabulous !!
December 20, 2012 at 8:11 pm
skyrofoam white…ha…that is awesome….great word play…def love the mod flavor…the grit of the street, not quite christmas cheer…enough for sure…
December 20, 2012 at 9:37 pm
Enjoyed both the tone and the wordplay–also enjoyed the use of the equal signs, very unique. Thanks for sharing 🙂
December 20, 2012 at 9:54 pm
Ha. I think the equal signs are only a function of my poor vision! But thanks. k.
December 20, 2012 at 9:59 pm
Enjoyed this city’s scene from you K, liked the creative refraining line ~
December 20, 2012 at 10:14 pm
I love the refrain — and a good story around it!
December 20, 2012 at 10:54 pm
I enjoyed the slice of New York City life in Kyrielle form.
December 21, 2012 at 12:08 am
nice…you show us a slice of nyc that is different to what the tourists see.. and nyc has surely suffered enough those last year. as much as i love the city, i think it’s prob. not so easy to live there
December 21, 2012 at 12:16 am
Ha. Thanks. It has its good and bads. I don’t care much for rats! K.
December 21, 2012 at 12:17 am
love the ash and soul, huddling chuff in your second stanza. the whole poem chants of life in the city, here and now punctuated by rats and sidewalk cell-talkers. great work, K.
December 21, 2012 at 6:44 am
Ha. Thanks. I don’t mind most sidewalk cell-talkers but this guy was terrible. k.
December 21, 2012 at 2:40 am
A different take on NY for me, k. I have been a ‘shuffling tourist’ 🙂
December 21, 2012 at 8:01 am
Enjoyed the tone and the structure’s so creative- very unique, well done. Check out my poetry if you want! SoggyTractor.wordpress.com
December 21, 2012 at 9:09 am
I’ve never been to NY, but your poem has certainly painted an image of it in my mind. I wonder what type of ‘rats’ the traps are for….
December 21, 2012 at 11:05 am
I am afraid they are for the regular kind. k.
December 21, 2012 at 12:46 pm
What a great piece!