I was talking to a friend about how we never see the stars here, so close to the city, and well, the contents of that conversation inspired this little piece of writing. Not a story per se, but I felt I'd share something with you all anyway.
It's uneditted, as I don't like going through short pieces I write for thought. But enjoy it none-the-less. The way a low pressure sodium street lamp pollutes the night sky around it, is, in its own way, beautiful. Monochromatic light filtering into the dark behind it, bathing the lamp in a halo of orange. The city is covered with it nowadays, Skyglow they call it.
Night doesn’t exist out here, in the city. There’s daytime, when the sky is blue, and then daytime, when the sky is orange. I’ve heard, out in the desert, the sky is black, and you can see stars with your eyes, and that they wink at you. I’ve never seen the stars, living in the city all my life, I’ve never been outside. I couldn’t imagine that, the outside life. With free growing trees, and, and wild animals. I’ve read stories about farms on the outside. Stories of people living in the country, with rolling hills and free streams and rivers and cornfields and oak trees.
The only trees I see are the ones in the park. The park. That’s what we call it nowadays, it had a name once, but it’s the last of its kind. There’s only one park in the city, no need to specify. Its name would be in the history books somewhere, along with pictures of the stars.
As beautiful as I’m led to believe these street lamps are though, I still wish I could see the stars, and the planets. I wish I could sit with my friends in the country, with some home-brewed cider, not the factory produced stuff we get here, sit with them and just watch the stars. And see the sun rise, and not have it be the same orange to blue, but instead, a purple bruise and ruddy dawn, as the sky’s stomach is ripped open by the flaring blade of the sun, bathing us with warmth not amplified by the carbon dioxide about us, as we’re shadowed by the intimidating figure of buildings and apartments.
I wish I lived in the country, where the air is fresh, the streams cold and clean, and in the country, where the stars, the stars are seen, and they wink at me as I sit down with my friends on top of the free gassy hills, sipping on some home brewed cider, and giggling, as we think what it’d be like to have a life in the city; a life full of grandeur, glamour and possibility.
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Not so the case
Written by gwynn1970 (109 comments posted) 3rd April 2006 | I think you are very good with words, but I come from a small village here in Wales, and I can tell you its not so good. There's too much incest and bestiality going on, and the sanitry conditions need improvement. Sure you can see the stars at night, but I'd happily do without them in exchange for an inside lavatory.
And Cable. | A full length piece.
Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3331 comments posted) 5th April 2006 | gywnne, I suggest you write a companion piece to this one giving the other view and if it's half as funny and wild as your post I'll look forward to it --but do remember the old warning, sweetie, "Try everything once except for incest and country dancing"
Alexxxxx It was a very atmospheric piece of work , very visual with all the colours mentioned and considering it was unedited it flowed really well. Reminded me of 1984 when the proles were telling Smith what it was like before, (and that's a great compliment) You got your message across in a very entertaining way. |
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