Poetry Corner: HOW I GO TO THE CITY

Introducing a new series of poems by Julian Matthews. Julian is a writer and Pushcart-nominated poet published in The American Journal of Poetry, Autumn Sky Poetry Daily, Borderless Journal, Beltway Poetry Quarterly, Dream Catcher Magazine,  Live Encounters Magazine, Lothlorien Poetry Journal and The New Verse News, among others. He is a mixed-race minority from Malaysia and lived in Ipoh for seven years. Currently based in Petaling Jaya, he is a media trainer and consultant for senior management of multinationals on Effective Media Relations, Social Media and Crisis Communications. He was formerly a journalist with The Star and Nikkei Business Publications Inc

Link: https://linktr.ee/julianmatthews

By Julian Matthews

Sometimes, I go to the city alone,
with not a single friend, for they are all
whiners and egotistical saps and, therefore, insufferable.
I don’t really want to be seen talking to the migrants
or hugging the homeless. I have my way of gravitating
to the needy, as you no doubt have yours.
Besides, when I am alone and it’s dark
I can become visible to no one.
I can sit at a bus stop or on a kerb outside
a 7-11 unobtrusive as a starling on a wire,
while passers-by run to catch the last train,
ignoring me. I can almost bear the unbearable
sound of the traffic lights screaming, Go. Caution. Stop.
Stop. Stop!
If you ever go to the city with me…wait.

It will never happen.

First published in The Marbled Sigh, New York, USA.