Friday, July 22, 2011

fff55: The Plumbline and the City


What makes a city?

Architects and builders
Pencils and plumb lines
Bricks and mortar
Concrete and steel.

Roads and railways
Alleys and roundabouts
Pavements and walk-ways
Bridges and tunnels.

Shops and offices
Churches and temples
Hotels and hospitals
Houses, not homes.

Where are the people?
Residents and workers
Visitors and tourists
A city needs people.

*********
This week's contribution to Flash Fiction Friday 55, which is hosted by the great G-Man over at Mr. Knowitall's Blog.

The photo is of a sculpture called The Plumbline and the City, by Clark Fitz-Gerald, in Coventry Cathedral.

9 comments:

Ellie Garratt said...

I really enjoyed your poem; I've never stopped to think of all the elements that make a city. Love it!

Ellie Garratt

Brian Miller said...

i love the city...and yes the people give it a pulse...

Cheryl said...

Great piece of poetry reminding us of what it takes to form a city and where to find its heart.

G-Man said...

How about a McDonalds?
AJ...
What a marvelous city planner you would make.
Loved your 55 My Friend.
Thanks for playing, and have a Kick Ass Week-End...G

Anonymous said...

People are certainly the basis for any real city.

Maude Lynn said...

Yep! Gotta have people!

Monkey Man said...

Could we at least be selective about the people? ;-)

snafu said...

Nicely structured and ending with what built the city, people.
City means many things to many people. In the USA, what we would call a small town is often called a city and here in England at one time a town could only become a ‘City’ if it had a cathedral, independent of its size. Not sure if that definition still stands. The City of London is just a small area within the greater London conurbation, so London is not a city, whilst the small St David’s in Wales is a true City because it has a cathedral.

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

colorful and visual 55.

we do need these wonders.
Happy Sunday.