April
in Newark
The
city emerges from cold, cruel despondence of winter months.
In
bloom and bustle, even the most blase now react to nature’s forces.
The
Spring awakens dormant buds, restless and anxious to grow,
And
Apple trees donate their martyred petals for aesthetics.
The
people evade mechanical duties, striding free from routine.
Head
in clouds, a warm air refreshes their hibernated thoughts.
The
smooth breeze cuts gracefully through abandoned alleys,
Carrying
faint traces of Portuguese cuisine to obscure Newark streets.
The
sun light illuminates the western horizon, a vast latitude of urban skyline.
Tonight
chases today far past visible peaks in a continuous race.
The
moment is perfect, valuable seconds of immanent rapture.
I
sense eternal happiness in the aura of an April dusk.
An Industrial Routine
Inhabitants of the city wake
before light,
Indifferent to the sun’s
schedule.
Their veiled desires turn
industrial gears,
Lubricated by adultery, hidden
vices, and beers.
Days in the factory cause
nights of burden,
Attempting to fix broken parts
of the family.
They perpetuate this zombies'
assembly line,
One clock-in away from serving
eternal time.
Though the sun is down,
products are still forged
By these hands that the boss’s
bankroll affords.
The chill of dusk creeps into
busy streets,
Forever freezing dreams as
tomorrow repeats.
Working Man’s Mystery
Stairs fill quickly, as they
seek the five thirty train.
In their faces you see a hard
days work and pain.
An unintentional collision
“Watch where you’re going!
Think I’ll get their faster
with you shoving?”
It’s the movement of people,
their plans for tonight.
Don’t assume that they're
looking for a fight.
The jobs they serve to fill
time and accounts
Are the reason another year of
unhappiness mounts.
Their collective decisions,
whether in truth or taint
Are the reason their souls are
weary and faint.
But the hustle of the city
keeps them busy,
Perpetuating the working mans
mystery.
Caden Mulligan, a student at Rutgers-Newark, is undecided in his major but plans a career in the arts. Posted September 2009.
