Philly Tableau Poem by Glen Kappy
Philly Tableau
Elderly, small, bent
she stands
on street corner
cell-phone hand
held out
into which
she harangues
in what I think
is Chinese.
Around her
buildings rise
for many stories.
Sounds and sense
of the city
getting going
this late spring
weekday morning—
vehicles, pedestrians
move with purpose.
Still at that corner
still her phone
held out
she harangues.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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4/25/2024 6:33:22 AM # 1.0.0.1119
This one made me smile. If it is Chinese, sometimes a friendly conversation can sound like a haranguing! I prefer to think she may be having a chat with a sister or a close friend back in Asia.
you may be right, suzanne. and it just occurs to me, i've been told by my wife i don't need to shout into a cell phone. i do it because of the broken and unreliable connections and wonder if i'm being heard. the sight of this diminutive woman against that backdrop struck me, hence this poem. thanks for commenting. -glen