Walking down East Hastings St At Midnight

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LukeMW
Junior Member

since 2006-03-01

Posts 15
Canada

0 posted 2006-03-05 05:20 PM

Hi all, second poem here at piptalk. East Hastings Street is basically the red light district of my hometown, Vancouver, BC, Canada. It is one of the most poverty-ridden areas in Canada, a sort of black hole in the center of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Walking down East Hastings St at midnight
icy wind stabbing at my throat
I saw the cold orange and sharp white of the streetlamps
fighting off the eternal darkness of a beat dead alley
And a writhing mad crackhead slumped
against a bold brick building
That has seen murder and suicide and rape
And a thousand nameless victims
Filthy horrid degenerate drug addicts
Who were once fresh-faced and innocent
grasped in their parents' warm arms
watched by happy-teared eyes full of love and hope
These piles of thousands of half-alive weary and wandering ghosts
Once soft sparkle-eyed infants now gnarled
by drugs and dirt and society
And I heard the shrill cry of a blue and red police siren
The only indication of an overdose or a murder or a mugging
Other than the forgotten decrepid body
of someone's long-lost lonesome baby
Dying hopelessly in a pool of blood and tears.

crimson tear
Member

since 2003-06-07

Posts 76
Massachusetts

1 posted 2006-03-05 05:49 PM

Wow these images bring on powerful feelings of desolation and hopelessness. Chilling man. Keep it up and welcome.

icequeen
Senior Member

since 2001-12-09

Posts 633
FL USA

2 posted 2006-03-05 09:47 PM

WoW!! Welcome, and you make quite an entrance. The imagery is rippling and scary, but because you tell it so well, one cannot help but look.

Caroline

He who wants a rose must respect the thorn.
- Persian Proverb

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

3 posted 2006-03-05 11:57 PM

There was a time anyone could walk down Hastings at night, but not anymore, unless you live there, and you told it "right on!" It is hard to not see any of Hastings when trying to get to Chinatown or Gastown, and it is an extremely disheartening sight to see. The food lines are not even as big anymore either, as they would rather frequent the lanes than eat. I really don't know what can be done to fix this now, as it was of our own making here in Vancouver. With the Olympics coming, watch them - who knows, maybe they will try.

One good thing about East Hastings - the Only Seafood Restaurant has not changed one iota in over 50 years.

Welcome to Passions Luke.

The Lady
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-12-26

Posts 7634
The Southwest

4 posted 2006-03-06 03:49 PM

Tragic poem Luke... well done.

Welcome!

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

5 posted 2006-03-06 04:45 PM

vivid write! makes you want to seek and wave a magic wand

Martie

Moderator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-09-21

Posts 28049
California

6 posted 2006-03-06 05:15 PM

Luke A raw look, and well done, at life in a hard place in any city. Sure is here in LA. Welcome to Passions!

hoot_owl_rn
Member Patricius

since 1999-07-05

Posts 10750
Glen Hope, PA USA

7 posted 2006-03-06 09:55 PM

excellent imagery

Skyfire

Member Elite

since 2000-12-27

Posts 3381
Riding

8 posted 2006-03-07 03:00 AM

Been there. Seen it.

You described it right on, and for that I applaud you.

and then He created the horse...

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