Deficient City of Excess

By Cameron Baillie

How many grand glass houses, 

In a city of oft-thrown stones? 

Whose heart beats on, 

Through centuries gone, 

From empire, fossils, and bones?

How many lights burn brightly, 

Conscious as our plight grows nightly? 

None there to see, 

Such spent energy, 

From choices they make so lightly. 

How many sighs of ‘good grief’, 

For those left to seek quick relief?

From lives they made, 

Their career, their trade, 

Founded on such warped beliefs. 

How many faces turn in, 

Just so as to not quite be seen? 

Post-work link-ups, 

And bagged pick-me-ups, 

Countless ciggies, booze, and caffeine.

How many can find no home,

Within this hard city’s great dome? 

Square feet ‘to let’, 

Yet none might they get, 

In this den of concrete and chrome. 

How many minor concerns, 

As our planet crumbles and burns? 

What life we knew, 

As our fortune grew, 

I fear we may never return.

Photography by Julietta Gramigni

Cameron examines the dichotomy between power and protest.

Share:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

On Key

Related Posts

Issue 951 Games

Designed by Joseph O’Keeffe Cryptic Crossword – Unclued Words all have something in common! Word Ladder – New Beginnings Strands – Start of Uni https://customstrandsnyt.com/play/Strands-StartofUni

A Guide to the Games

Introduction: Welcome to The Beaver’s Games page! For our readers and players, we Beavers have joined forces to create new games with each issue. To

LSE students at NYU: Love in NYC

Jennifer explores how LSE students on exchange at NYU navigate New York’s dating scene, where ambition, endless options and the fear of commitment often get in the way of meaningful connection.

scroll to top