The City Watcher (Found Poem)

I stare into the night

No moon; the pickup’s headlights stare

At their invisible friends or lovers,

Everybody trying to get to a different place.

Keep the lights flickering. I watch them

The stress shows, LA falls apart.

The child I once was marveled, City Life—

The places you’ll go, the places you’ll go!

Tonight I lingered over your name

Into memory, it comes back, new,

Come back! I want to call to her,

Who actually “gets” my poetry.

In the streets, which are full of love—

It’s nice to think that somewhere someone is having a good time.

Sources:

Roethke, Theodore. “Night Journey.” Good Poems, American Places, Edited by Garrison Keillor, 2011, pp. 23.

Nystrom, Debra. “Skinny-Dipping After work at the Drive-In.” Good Poems, American Places, Edited by Garrison Keillor, 2011, pp. 73.

Bilgere, George. “Bridal Shower.” Good Poems, American Places, Edited by Garrison Keillor, 2011, pp. 99.

Morling, Malena. “For Bartleby.” Good Poems, American Places, Edited by Garrison Keillor, 2011, pp. 106.

Mcduffie, Dawn. “Motor City Tirade.” Good Poems, American Places, Edited by Garrison Keillor, 2011, pp. 113.

Stevenson, Terry. “L.A.” Good Poems, American Places, Edited by Garrison Keillor, 2011, pp. 123.

Updike, John. “Reading, PA.” Good Poems, American Places, Edited by Garrison Keillor, 2011, pp. 126.

Davis, Cortney. “Every Day, the Pregnant Teenagers.” Good Poems, American Places, Edited by Garrison Keillor, 2011, pp. 140.

Nye, Naomi. “San Antonio.” Good Poems, American Places, Edited by Garrison Keillor, 2011, pp. 162.

Mitchell, Mark. “Minor League Rainout, Iowa.” Good Poems, American Places, Edited by Garrison Keillor, 2011, pp. 258.

Kumin, Maxine. “The Word.” Good Poems, American Places, Edited by Garrison Keillor, 2011, pp. 205.

Bilgere, George. “Ineffable.” Good Poems, American Places, Edited by Garrison Keillor, 2011, pp. 248.

Field, Edward. “New York.” Good Poems, American Places, Edited by Garrison Keillor, 2011, pp. 89.

Wright, Charles. “Looking West from Laguna Beach at Night.” Good Poems, American Places, Edited by Garrison Keillor, 2011, pp. 408.