New City, Tired Feet

Posted on May 26, 2021 by purplepeninportland 
Written for:  dVerse Poets Pub
Poetics: “Go Ahead, Make My Day”  (posted by Mish)

"We all have our favourite movies that have deeply impacted us with powerful images and of course, those catchy lines, dialogue that transcends beyond the screen. Many movie quotes have made their way into our daily conversation, advertisements and more recently, “memes”. They have moved us, made us laugh and made us cry. Withstanding the test of time, they reproduce the scene for us over and over to enjoy again and again. Some are simple, some are silly while others have become ingrained in our brains because of their brilliance. For whatever reason, they stick."

"So as you may have predicted, “your mission should you choose to accept it” is to select one of the movie quotes above and incorporate it into a poem of any style."


Lost and broke
in a new city.
Feet blistering
as I walk from one
job prospect to
another. Brother!
what a humid heat
beats in this town.
I frown.  Have to get
off my feet, drink
something cool.  Hunger
can wait until there are
more coins in my pocket.

Find a diner, slide onto 
a red cracked vinyl stool 
at the counter.  'Large 
cherry coke, please' I say
to the harried waitress.
I sip as slowly as I can.
A well dressed, expensively
suited woman sits down beside me.
'Why honey,' she says, 'you
look ashen.  Are you all
right?'  Cue for my stomach
to rumble like a runaway
motorcycle.  

We chat.
She urges me to order
some food.  Humiliated,
I explain my situation.
She believes there is
a spot open in her company,
and invites me to stop in.
Against my protestations,
she buys me lunch.  Did she
have a hunch about me?
Well, there is no one 
in my family that will
help me out.  That's why
I have always depended
on the kindness of 
strangers.  We walk out
arm in arm.  I have hope.

(“I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” 
– A Street Car Named Desire, 1951 –)

https://dversepoets.com/

About purplepeninportland

I am a freelance poet, born and bred in Brooklyn, New York. I live with my husband, John, and two charming rescue dogs–Marion Miller and Murphy. We spent eight lovely years in Portland, OR, but are now back in New York. My goal is to create and share poetry with others who write, or simply enjoy reading poetry. I hope to touch a nerve in you, and feel your sparks as well.
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25 Responses to New City, Tired Feet

  1. Susan Joy Clark says:
    May 26, 2021 at 4:10 am

    Nice! I wasn’t quite expecting the ending. It works really well. 🙂

    Like

  2. Mish says:
    May 26, 2021 at 6:01 am

    A sad but true scenario for so many. I cannot help but think how many lives could change by more simple acts of generosity.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Ingrid says:
    May 26, 2021 at 8:07 am

    I like the positive outcome to a situation that might have seemed hopeless. The stuff that movies are made of!

    Like

  4. abigfatcanofworms says:
    May 26, 2021 at 12:05 pm

    a lovely poem. some people really have the knack for bringing light into darkness.

    Like

  5. Helen Dehner says:
    May 26, 2021 at 5:36 pm

    The kindness of strangers, how would we ever manage without??? I love this, Sara.

    Like

  6. Beverly Crawford says:
    May 26, 2021 at 6:00 pm

    A simple act of kindness can change the life of the receiver AND the giver. We are indeed stronger together.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. msjadeli says:
    May 27, 2021 at 4:09 am

    Sara, I can see this in my mind as a movie, with you doing the narration of the scene. Great description with the cracked vinyl seat in the diner.

    Like

  8. msjadeli says:
    May 27, 2021 at 4:10 am

    p.s. I also *love* this part:
    “Brother!
    what a humid heat
    beats in this town.”

    Like

  9. sanaarizvi says:
    May 27, 2021 at 6:07 am

    This is incredibly deep and heartfelt. I agree, even a small act of kindness goes a long way in changing someone’s view on life. 💝💝

    Like

  10. Sunra Rainz says:
    May 27, 2021 at 7:52 pm

    I so enjoyed reading this whole scene playing out 🙂 I particularly love the line: cue for my stomach to rumble like a runaway motorcycle ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Isha says:
    May 28, 2021 at 6:54 am

    Very beautiful, and heartfelt ❤

    Like

Comments are closed.