CITY LIFE—Terza Rima in Iambic Pentameter: Second Draft

The rent is late, the landlord’s yelling loud
and rapping rashly on the filthy panes
while children hide, and struggling, stifle sound.

Single beams diffuse the dusty frames
and neighboring bricks stretch up to meet the sky:
a view encased by upright golden plains.

The nearby ‘el’ train shrieks while sprinting by,
swaying the mass, like arid prairie grass
when brushed by winter’s harsh and livid sigh.

The angry buzzard stops his knocking sass
retreating to his rundown nest below
as tiny faces peek behind the glass.

The kids rush down the slick back steps on tip toe
behind the boarded house and alleyways
as swarming pigeons coo, and car horns blow.

Slouching teens shout rude remarks and gaze
like trifling prowlers stalking easy prey
on broke down benches cracked by sunny days.

The empty swings, like squawking sirens, sway
And hoop-less poles lurk in crumbled pavement
Deserted woodlands, left in disarray.

But two blocks down from this establishment
expensive coats and flashy pumps step proud
the symbol of the district’s upward movement;

While growing numbers sleep upon the ground.