avatarAshlea Morgan, PhD

Summary

"City Seas" is a poem that metaphorically transforms the noises of a bustling city at night into the sounds of a seaside harbor, evoking a serene and contemplative atmosphere.

Abstract

The poem "City Seas" paints an auditory picture of a city at night, drawing a vivid comparison between the urban soundscape and the serene ambiance of a coastal scene. Cars become waves, early birds morph into seagulls, and a distant siren echoes a tugboat's call. The city's nightlife is reimagined as maritime activity, with tractor-trailers turning into cargo ships and the conversations of passersby representing a couple's peaceful stroll along the shore. The author suggests that the city, with its open window admitting the sounds of activity, offers a tranquil sleep aid akin to the natural lullaby of the sea.

Opinions

  • The poem expresses a poetic opinion that the city's noises are not merely urban sounds but can be appreciated as natural and soothing elements similar to those found by the ocean.
  • There is an underlying tranquility in the city at night, which is often overlooked but can be as calming as a seaside environment.
  • The author seems to enjoy the sensory experience of the city at night, finding beauty and peace in the sounds that others might dismiss as noise.
  • The poem suggests that the city's nocturnal transformation has the potential to offer therapeutic benefits, much like the relaxing effects of being near the sea.

City seas

A poem about a city transformed by night

Photo by Davide Sibilio on Unsplash

During the wee hours,

Passing cars sound like

Waves crashing against

The beach. The early

Birds chirping are

gulls ready for their

first meals. A buoy

clangs and a distant

Faint ambulance siren

Becomes a tugboat

Declaring “I’m here”.

A tractor-trailer is, but a

Large vessel full of

Cargo from afar. Two

Close by voices belong

To a couple strolling

By audibly enjoying the

cloudless, starry night

They must know that

sand and salty air will

Help them sleep tonight.

My window wide open

Brings in the sounds of

A city still wide awake

Photo by Anthony Rosset on Unsplash
Poem
Poetry
City Living
Imagination
Night
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